THE LIBRARY
OF
THE UNIVERSITY
OF CALIFORNIA
LOS ANGELES
GIFT OF
COMMODORE BYRON MCCANDLESS
HISTORICAL RECORD
OF
THE FIFTY-THIRD,
OR
THE SHROPSHIRE REGIMENT OF FOOT.
CONTAINING
AN ACCOUNT OF THE FORMATION OF THE REGIMENT
IN 1755
AND OF ITS SUBSEQUENT SERVICES
TO 1848.
COMPILED J)Y
RICHARD CANNON, ESQ.,
AD .TUTANT-GENERAI/8 OFFICE, HORSE GUARDS.
ILLUSTRATED WITH PLATES.
LONDON :
PARKER, FURNIVALL, & PARKER,
30, CHARING-CROSS,
FOB HB1 MAJRSTV'i 1TATIONEKY OFFICE.
THE FIFTY-THIRD,
OH
THE SHROPSHIRE REGIMENT OF FOOT,
BEAES ON THE REGIMENTAL COLOUR
THE WORD "NIEUPORT;"
IN COMMEMORATION OP ITS DISTINGUISHED GALLANTRY IN THE DEFENCE OF THAT
FORTRESS IN OCTOBER, 1793 :
THE WORD " T O U R N A Y ;"
IN TESTIMONY OF ITS HEROIC CONDUCT IN ACTION AGAINST A SUPERIOR
FORCE OF THE ENEMY IN MAY, 1794 J
THE WORDS "ST. LUCIA;"
A MARK OF DISTINCTION FOR ITS BRAVERY DISPLAYED AT THE CAPTURE OI
ST. LUCIA, IN MAY, 1796 :
THE WORDS
"TALAVERA," "SALAMANCA," "VITTORIA," "PYRENEES,"
"NIVELLE," "TOULOUSE," AND "PENINSULA,"
TO COMMEMORATE THE MERITORIOUS SERVICES OF THE Second BATTALION DURING
THE PENINSULAR WAR, FROM 1809 TO 1814;
AND THE WORDS
" A L I W A L," AND " S O B R A O N ;"
AS A LASTING TESTIMONY OF THE GALLANT CONDUCT OF THE REGIMENT
ON THE BANKS OF THE SUTLEJ, ON THE 28TH JANUARY, AND
10TH FEBRUARY, 1846.
a 2
( XXV )
THE FIFTY-THIRD,
THE SHROPSHIRE REGIMENT.
CONTENTS
HISTORICAL RECORD.
YSAB PAOS
INTRODUCTION ...... i
1755 Formation of the Regiment .... 1
Colonel W. Whitmore appointed to the
colonelcy ...... —
Numbered the FIFTY-FIFTH, and afterwards the
FIFTY-THIRD regiment .... -
Station, uniform, and facing ... —
Officers appointed to commissions ... 2
1756 Embarked for Gibraltar ....
1759 Appointment of Colonel John Toovey to the
colonelcy, in succession to Colonel Whitmore,
removed to the ninth regiment .
1768 Returned from Gibraltar, and embarked for
Ireland ...... 3
1770 Appointment of Colonel R. D. H. Elphinstone
to the colonelcy, in succession to Colonel
Toovey, deceased ..... -
1776 Embarked for North America
1777 Engaged with the American forces ... -
XXVI CONTENTS OF THE HISTORICAL RECORD.
YEAR PAOK
1782 The American war terminated ... 4
The regiment directed to assume the county title
of Shropshire regiment in addition to its Nu-
merical title ......
1789 Returned to England from North America . —
1790 Embarked on board of the fleet to serve as
Marines ......
1791 Proceeded to Scotland 5
1793 Embarked for service in Flanders .
Engaged at Famars ..... —
the siege and capture of Valen-
ciennes ......
— the siege of Dunkirk . . . 6
Nieuport .....
Received the Royal Authority to bear the word
" Nieuport " on the colours
1794 Major-General Gerard Lake, afterwards Vis-
count Lake,, appointed to the colonelcy, in
succession to General Elphinstone, deceased . —
Engaged in operations at Vaux, Fremont,
Marets, &c 7
at the siege and capture of Landrecies . -
— repulse of the enemy at Gateau . -
; . Tournay -
capture of Lannoy, Roubaix, and
Mouveaux ......
— in the masterly retreat to Leers . 8
storming the village of Ponte'cLin . 9
- Received the Royal Authority to bear the word
" Tournay" on its colours ... 10
1795 Returned to England ....
Encamped at Southampton ....
Embarked with, an expedition for the West
Indies _
1796 Attack and Capture of St. Lucia .
CONTENTS OF THE HISTORICAL RECORD. XXV11
YEAR PAGE
1796 Received the Royal Authority to bear the words
" fit. Lucia " on its colours . . . 11
Embarked for St. Vincent .... —
Engaged in quelling an insurrection, and expel-
ling the Caribs from the Island of St. Vincent —
Received the thanks of the General Officer com-
manding, and of the Council and Assembly
of the Island 12
Appointment of Major-General W. E. Doyle to
the colonelcy, in succession to General Lake,
removed to the 73rd regiment ... —
1797 Engaged in the capture of Trinidad . , —
Employed in an unsuccessful attempt at Port.o-
Rico . .... —
Returned to St. Vincent . . . . 13
1798 Lieut.-General Crosbie appointed to the
colonelcy, in succession to Major-General
Doyle, deceased ..... —
1 800 Removed from St. Vincent to St. Lucia . . —
1 802 Returned to England on the surrender of St.
Lucia to France according to the treaty of
peace concluded at Amiens ... —
1803 Marched under the command of Lieut.-Colonel
Lightburne, for Shrewsbury
1805 The First Battalion embarked for India . . —
Arrived at Fort St. George, Madras, and pro-
ceeded to Dinapore ..... —
1806 Removed from Dinapore to Berhampore . 14
1807 Proceeded from Berhampore to Cawnpore . —
Major-General Honorable John Abercromby
appointed to the colonelcy in succession to
General Crosbie, deceased ... —
1809 Three companies detached to Bundelcund,
and engaged at the siege and capture of the
fort of Adjighion . . " . ~. . —
XXV111 CONTENTS OF THE HISTORICAL RECORD.
YEAR PAQE
1809 The Battalion took the field with the troops
under Colonel Martindell . . . . 15
1810 Returned to Cawnpore, and received the thanks
of the officer commanding for their con-
duct ......
1812 Five companies engaged in the storming of
the fortress of Callinger .... —
Surrender of the garrison of Callinger on the re-
maining five companies joining from Cawn-
pore 17
The Battalion returned to Cawnpore, and
afterwards proceeded to Meerut . . 18
1814 Marched from Meerut, and joined the army
formed for the invasion of the kingdom of
Nepaul, or the Gorca State ... —
Engaged in the storming and capture of the
fort of Kalunga . . . . . 19
Proceeded to the capture of Nahn and other
fortified places on the Jampta heights . . 21
The Nepaulese reduced to submission . , —
Embarked for Berhampore, proceeded to
Calcutta, and afterwards embarked for
Madras ......
1816 The Battalion proceeded from Madras to the
Naggery Pass, to repress the plundering
tribes of Pindarees . . . . . —
— Marched for Trichinopoly .... 22
1817 Appointment of Lieut.-General Lord Hill,
G.C.B., to the colonelcy, in succession to
Lieut-General Sir John Abercromby, de-
- The flank companies employed with a field force
under Brigadier General Pritzler . . 23
1819 Assault of the fort of Copaul Droog . . —
1820 Marched from Trichinopoly for Bellary . . —
CONTENTS OF THE HISTORICAL RECORD. XXIX
YEAR PAGE
1820 Proceeded to Bangalore .... 23
The flank companies rejoined the regiment after
much arduous service .... 24
1822 Quitted the Mysore, and proceeded to Fort St.
George ....... —
Relieved by the Forty-first regiment, and
ordered to prepare for embarkation for Eng-
land —
1823 Embarked from Madras, and arrived at Chat-
ham 25
Return of Casualties in the First Battalion, from
1805 to 1822 —
— — Removed to Weedon ..... —
1826 Proceeded to Portsmouth, and inspected by Ge-
neral Lord Hill, G.C.B —
Marched into Lancashire, and embarked for Ire-
land —
1829 Formed into six Service, and four Depot com-
panies, preparatory for embarkation for foreign
service ....... 26
Service companies embarked at Cork for Gibral-
tar —
1830 New Colours presented to the Regiment by
General Sir George Don, Lieut.-Governor of
Gibraltar —
Appointment of Major-General Lord FitzRoy
J. H. Somerset, K.C.B., to the colonelcy, in
succession to General Lord Hill, G.C.B., re-
moved to the Royal Regiment of Horse
Guards ...... —
1834 Service companies proceeded to Malta . . 27
1835 Depot companies returned to Ireland . . —
1836 Service companies embarked for the Ionian
Islands . —
XXX CONTENTS OF THE HISTORICAL RECORD.
YEAR PAOK
1840 Service companies embarked from Corfu and
landed at Plymouth 27
1841 Regiment proceeded to Scotland ... —
1843 Embarked for Ireland _
1844 Embarked for the East Indies —
Arrived at Calcutta ..... —
1845 Proceeded to Cawnpore; thence to Agra; and
to Delhi ...... . . —
] 846 Active operations commenced on the Sutlej . —
— — The Regiment proceeded from Delhi, and joined
the division of the army on the march to Loo-
dianah . . . . . . 28
Engaged at the Battle of Aliwal ... 29
Engaged at the Battle of Sobraon ... 30
Received the thanks and approbation of the Go-
vernor-General of India . ... 32
Medals presented by the Government of India 33
Received the Royal Authority to bear the words
"Aliwal " and "Sobraon " on the colours and
appointments ...... —
Proceeded to Lahore, thence to Umballa, and
to Ferozepore . . . . 34
1848 Returned to Lahore , —
( xxxi )
CONTENTS
OF THE
HISTORICAL RECORD OF THE FIFTY-THIRD
REGIMENT,
RELATING TO THE SERVICES OF THE
SECOND BATTALION.
YEAR PAOE
1 803 The Second Battalion of the Fifty-third Regi-
ment formed from men raised under the Army
of Reserve Act in Yorkshire, and assembled at
Sunderland . . . / . 35
1804 Embarked for Ireland .... 36
1807 The men enlisted for limited service transferred
to a Garrison battalion ; the remainder em-
barked from Dublin, and proceeded to Shrews-
bury ; thence to "Weymouth, where the Batta-
lion was augmented by volunteers from the
Militia ....... 37
1808 Proceeded to Bletchington, thence to Ports-
mouth, and embarked for Ireland . . —
1809 Embarked at Cork for service with the army in
Portugal ...... —
Marched to Oporto .... —
Advanced into Spain, and engaged in the Battle
of Talavera 38
Received the Royal Authority to bear the word
" Talavera " on the colours and appointments 39
Withdrew into Portugal .... —
XXxii CONTENTS — SECOND BATTALION.
YEAR PAGE
1810 Advanced from Guarda to the valley of Mondego 39
Ciudad Rodrigo captured by the French . . 40
Engaged at the Battle of Busaco ... —
Occupied the lines of Torres Vedras . . —
1811 The French retreated to the Portuguese
frontier ......—
The fortress of Almeida invested . . . 41
Removed to San Pedro .... —
Engaged in the action at Fuentes d'Onor . —
Resumed its post before Almeida ... —
Joined the army in the Alemtejo ... —
Crossed the Agueda to protect the inhabitants
from the French garrison of Ciudad Rodrigo —
1812 Siege and capture of Ciudad Rodrigo . . 42
Formed part of the covering army during the
siege and capture of Badajoz ... —
Moved forward to assist in the attack at Almaraz 43
Employed in the siege of the French troops left
in two fortified convents .... —
Engaged at the Battle of Salamanca . . 44
Received the Royal Authority to bear the word
" Salamanca " on the colours and appoint-
ments ....... 45
Entered the city of Valladolid ... 46
Stationed at Cuellar ..... —
Employed in the siege of Burgos castle . . 47
Retired from Burgos to the Portuguese frontier —
1813 Four companies formed part of the second
Provisional battalion .... —
Six companies proceeded to England . . —
Proceeded through the Tras-os-Montes, and
crossed the Esla river .... 48
Engaged in the Battle of Vittoria
Received the Royal Authority to bear the word
" Vittoria " on the colours and appointments —
CONTENTS — SECOND BATTALION. XXX111
YKAB PAOK
1813 Followed the French army to the vicinity of
Fampeluna 49
Employed in the blockade of Pampeluna. . —
Advanced into the Pyrenees in support of the
troops in the Pass of Roncesvalles . . —
Conflict in front of Pampeluna ... —
Received the Royal Authority to bear the word
" Pyrenees " on the colours and appointments —
Pursued the French army through the Pyrenees 50
Storming and capture of St. Sebastian . . —
Attack of the French troops on the heights of
San Marcial, and Pass of St. Antonio . —
Passage of the Bidassoa .... —
Advanced into France . . . . 51
Engaged in the Battle of Nivelle ... —
Received the Royal Authority to bear the word
" Nivelle " on the colours and appointments . —
Passage of the river Nive .... 52
1814 Marched to St. Jean de Luz ... —
Rejoined the army at Grenade ... —
Marched towards Bordeaux .... —
The six companies sent to England in 1813,
returned to Spain, and advanced to Tarbes . —
1814 Employed in operations against the castle of
L'Ourde 5
Engaged in the Battle of Toulouse . . —
Received the Royal Authority to bear the word
" Toulouse " on the colours and appointments —
Termination of the Peninsular War . . 54
Received the Royal Authority to bear the word
" Peninsula" on the colours and appoint-
ments ....... —
Encamped at Bordeaux .... —
• Embarked for Ireland ..... —
Re-embarked for England . . . .55
XXXIV CONTENTS — SECOND BATTALION.
YEAR PA«E
1815 Stationed at Portsmouth .... 55
Battle of Waterloo, and surrender of Napoleon
Bonaparte ......—
Proceeded with Napoleon Bonaparte te St.
Helena. ...... —
Medals presented to certain Serjeants for ser-
vices in the Peninsular War ... —
1817 Returned from St. Helena to England . . 56
Arrived at Portsmouth, and proceeded to Can-
terbury ...... 57
Disbanded at Canterbury .... —
THE CONCLUSION . . 59
( XXXV )
SUCCESSION OF COLONELS
OF THE
FIFTY-THIKD-
OR
THE SHROPSHIRE REGIMENT OF FOOT.
YKAB PAOE
1755 William Whitmore 59
1759 John Toovey —
1770 Robert Dalrymple Home Elphinstone . . 60
1794 Gerard Lake, afterwards Viscount Lake . . —
1796 Welbore Ellis Doyle 62
1798 Charles Crosbie 63
1807 Honorable John Abercromby, G.C.B. . . —
1817 Rowland Lord Hill, G.C.B. ... 65
1830 Lord FitzRoy James Henry Somerset, G.C.B. 68
Memoir of the Services of Major-General Sir GEORGE
RIDOUT BINGHAM, K.C.B. ... 69
PLATES.
Costume of the Regiment . . to face Page 1
Colours of the Regiment . . . . 34
Monument erected at Shrewsbury to the memory
of the officers and soldiers of the Regiment
who were killed at the Battles of Aliwal
and Sobraon, on the 28th January and 10th
February, 1846 58
GENEKAL ORDEKS.
HORSE-GUARDS,
1st January, 1836.
His MAJESTY has been pleased to command that,
with the view of doing the fullest justice to Regi-
ments, as well as to Individuals who have dis-
tinguished themselves by their Bravery in Action
with the Enemy, an Account of the Services of
every Regiment in the British Army shall be pub-
lished under the superintendence and direction of
the Adjutant-General ; and that this Account shall
contain the following particulars, viz. : — •
. The Period and Circumstances of the Original
Formation of the Regiment ; The Stations at which it
has been from time to time employed ; The Battles,
Sieges, and other Military Operations in which it has
been engaged, particularly specifying any Achieve-
ment it may have performed, and the Colours,
Trophies, &c., it may have captured from the
Enemy.
The Names of the Officers, and the number of
Non-Commissioned Officers and Privates Killed or
Wounded by the Enemy, specifying the place and
Date of the Action.
11 GENERAL ORDEBS.
The Names of those Officers who, in con-
sideration of their Gallant Services and Meritorious
Conduct in Engagements with the Enemy, have
been distinguished with Titles, Medals, or other
Marks of His Majesty's gracious favour.
The Names of all such Officers, Non-Com-
missioned Officers, and Privates, as may have
specially signalized themselves in Action.
And,
The Badges and Devices which the Regi-
ment may have been permitted to bear, and the
Causes on account of which such Badges or Devices,
or any other Marks of Distinction, have been
granted.
By Command of the Right Honorable
GENERAL LORD HILL,
Commanding-in- Chief.
JOHN MACDONALD,
Adjutant- General.
PREFACE.
THE character and credit of the British Army must
chiefly depend upon the zeal and ardour by which
all who enter into its service are animated, and
consequently it is of the highest importance that any
measure calculated to excite the spirit of emulation,
by which alone great and gallant actions are achieved,
should be adopted.
Nothing can more fully tend to the accomplishment
of this desirable object than a full display of the noble
deeds with which the Military History of our country
abounds. To hold forth these bright examples to
the imitation of the youthful soldier, and thus to
incite him to emulate the meritorious conduct of those
who have preceded him in their honorable career,
are among the motives that have given rise to the
present publication.
The operations of the British Troops are, indeed,
announced in the " London Gazette," from whence
they are transferred into the public prints: the
achievements of our armies are thus made known at
the time of their occurrence, and receive the tribute
a 2
IV PREFACE.
of praise and admiration to which they are entitled.
On extraordinary occasions, the Houses of Parliament
have been in the habit of conferring on the Com-
manders, and the Officers and Troops acting under
their orders, expressions of approbation and of thanks
for their skill and bravery ; and these testimonials,
confirmed by the high honour of their Sovereign's
approbation, constitute the reward which the soldier
most highly prizes.
It has not, however, until late years, been the prac-
tice (which appears to have long prevailed in some of
the Continental armies) for British Regiments to keep
regular records of their services and achievements.
Hence some difficulty has been experienced in obtain-
ing, particularly from the old Regiments, an au-
thentic account of their origin and subsequent services.
This defect will now be remedied, in consequence
of His Majesty having been pleased to command
that every Regiment shall, in future, keep a full and
ample record of its services at home and abroad.
From the materials thus collected, the country
will henceforth derive information as to the difficulties
and privations which chequer the career of those who
embrace the military profession. In Great Britain,
where so large a number of persons are devoted to
the active concerns of agriculture, manufactures,
and commerce, and where these pursuits have, for so
PREFACE. V
long a period, being undisturbed by the presence oj
war, which few other countries have escaped, com-
paratively little is known of the vicissitudes of active
service and of the casualties of climate, to which,
even during peace, the British Troops are exposed in
every part of the globe, with little or no interval of
repose.
In their tranquil enjoyment of the blessings which
the country derives from the industry and the enter-
prise of the agriculturist and the trader, its happy
inhabitants may be supposed not often to reflect on
the perilous duties of the soldier and the sailor, — on
their sufferings, — and on the sacrifice of valuable life,
by which so many national benefits are obtained and
preserved.
The conduct of the British Troops, their valour,
and endurance, have shone conspicuously under great
and trying difficulties ; and their character has been
established in Continental warfare by the irresistible
spirit with which they have effected debarkations in.
spite of the most formidable opposition, and by the
gallantry and steadiness with which they have main-
tained their advantages against superior numbers.
In the official Reports made by the respective Com-
manders, ample justice has generally been done to
the gallant exertions of the Corps employed ; but
the details of their services and of acts of individual
VI PREFACE.
bravery can only be fully given in the Annals of the
various Regiments.
These Records are now preparing for publication,
under his Majesty's special authority, by Mr.
RICHARD CANNON, Principal Clerk of the Adjutant
General's Office ; and while the perusal of them can-
not fail to be useful and interesting to military men
of every rank, it is considered that they will also
afford entertainment and information to the general
reader, particularly to those who may have served in
the Army, or who have relatives in the Service.
There exists in the breasts of most of those who
have served, or are serving, in the Army, an Esprit
de Corps — an attachment to everything belonging
to their Regiment ; to such persons a narrative of
the services of their own Corps cannot fail to prove
interesting. Authentic accounts of the actions of
the great, the valiant, the loyal, have always been
of paramount interest with a brave and civilized
people. Great Britain has produced a race of heroes
who, in moments of danger and terror, have stood
" firm as the rocks of their native shore :" and when
half the world has been arrayed against them, they
have fought the battles of their Country with un-
shaken fortitude. It is presumed that a record of
achievements in war, — victories so complete and sur-
prising, gained by our countrymen, our brothers,
PREFACE. Vll
our fellow citizens in arms, — a record which revives
the memory of the brave, and brings their gallant
deeds before us, — will certainly prove acceptable to
the public.
Biographical Memoirs of the Colonels and other
distinguished Officers will be introduced in the
Records of their respective Regiments, and the
Honorary Distinctions which have, from time to
time, been conferred upon each Regiment, as testify-
ing the value and importance of its services, will be
faithfully set forth.
As a convenient mode of Publication, the Record
of each Regiment will be printed in a distinct num-
ber, so that when the whole shall be completed, the
Parts may be bound up in numerical succession.
INTRODUCTION
THE INFANTRY.
THE natives of Britain have, at all periods, been
celebrated for innate courage and unshaken firmness,
and the national superiority of the British troops
over those of other countries has been evinced in
the midst of the most imminent perils. History con-
tains so many proofs of extraordinary acts of bravery,
that no doubts can be raised upon the facts which
are recorded. It must therefore be admitted, that
the distinguishing feature of the British soldier is
INTREPIDITY. This quality was evinced by the
inhabitants of England when their country was
invaded by Julius Caesar with a Roman army, on
which occasion the undaunted Britons rushed into
the sea to attack the Roman soldiers as they de-
scended from their ships ; and, although their dis-
cipline and arms were inferior to those of their
adversaries, yet their fierce and dauntless bearing
intimidated the flower of the Roman troops, in-
cluding Caesar's favourite tenth legion. Their arms
consisted of spears, short swords, and other weapons
of rude construction. They had chariots, to the
X INTRODUCTION
axles of which were fastened sharp pieces of iron
resembling scythe-blades, and infantry in long
chariots resembling waggons, who alighted and
fought on foot, and for change of ground, pursuit
or retreat, sprang into the chariot and drove off
with the speed of cavalry. These inventions were,
however, unavailing against Caesar's legions : in
the course of time a military system, with dis-
cipline and subordination, was introduced, and
British courage, being thus regulated, was exerted
to the greatest advantage; a full development of
the national character followed, and it shone forth
in all its native brilliancy.
The military force of the Anglo-Saxons consisted
principally of infantry: Thanes, and other men of
property, however, fought on horseback. The
infantry were of two classes, heavy and light.
The former carried large shields armed with spikes,
long broad swords and spears ; and the latter were
armed with swords or spears only. They had also
men armed with clubs, others with battle-axes and
javelins.
The feudal troops established by William the
Conqueror consisted (as already stated in the Intro-
duction to the Cavalry) almost entirely of horse ;
but when the warlike barons and knights, with their
trains of tenants and vassals, took the field, a pro-
portion of men appeared on foot, and, although
these were of inferior degree, they proved stout-
hearted Britons of stanch fidelity. When stipen-
diary troops were employed, infantry always con-
stituted a considerable portion of the military force ;
TO THE INFANTRY. XI
and this arme has since acquired, in every quarter
of the globe, a celebrity never exceeded by the
armies of any nation at any period.
The weapons carried by the infantry, during the
several reigns succeeding the Conquest, were bows
and arrows, half-pikes, lances, halberds, various
kinds of battle-axes, swords, and daggers. Armour
was worn on the head and body, and in course of
time the practice became general for military men
to be so completely cased in steel, that it was
almost impossible to slay them.
The introduction of the use of gunpowder in the
destructive purposes of war, in the early part of the
fourteenth century, produced a change in the arms
and equipment of the infantry-soldier. Bows and
arrows gave place to various kinds of fire-arms, but
British archers continued formidable adversaries ;
and, owing to the inconvenient construction and im-
perfect bore of the fire-arms when first introduced,
a body of men, well trained in the use of the bow
from their youth, was considered a valuable acqui-
sition to every army, even as late as the sixteenth
century.
During a great part of the reign of Queen Eliza-
beth each company of infantry usually consisted of
men armed five different ways ; in every hundred
men forty were "men-at-arms," and sixty "shot;"
the " men-at-arms" were ten halberdiers, or battle-
axe men, and thirty pikemen ; and the " shot" were
twenty archers, twenty musketeers, and twenty
harquebusiers, and each man carried, besides his
principal weapon, a sword and dagger.
Xll INTRODUCTION
Companies of infantry varied at this period in
numbers from 150 to 300 men ; each company had
a colour or ensign, and the mode of formation re-
commended by an English military writer (Sir John
Smithe) in 1590 was : — the colour in the centre of
the company guarded by the halberdiers ; the pike-
men in equal proportions, on each flank of the
halberdiers: half the musketeers on each flank of
the pikes ; half the archers on each flank of the mus-
keteers, and the harquebusiers (whose arms were
much lighter than the muskets then in use) in equal
proportions on each flank of the company for skirmish-
ing.* It was customary to unite a number of com-
panies into one body, called a REGIMENT, which
frequently amounted to three thousand men : but
each company continued to carry a colour. Nume-
rous improvements were eventually introduced in the
construction of fire-arms, and, it having been found
impossible to make armour proof against the muskets
then in use (which carried a very heavy ball) without
its being too weighty for the soldier, armour was
gradually laid aside by the infantry in the seven-
teenth century : bows and arrows also fell into dis-
use, and the infantry were reduced to two classes,
viz.: musketeers, armed with matchlock muskets,
* A company of 200 men would appear thus : —
20 20 20 30 2K) 30 20 20 20
Harquebuses. Archers. MuskeU. Pikes. Halblrds. Pikes. Muskets. Archers. Harquebuses
The musket carried a ball which weighed T'5th of a pound ; and the
harquebus a ball which weighed s>-th of a pound.
TO THE INFANTRY. Xlll
swords, and daggers; and pikemen, armed with pikes
from fourteen to eighteen feet long, and swords.
In the early part of the seventeenth century
Gustavus Adolphus, King of Sweden, reduced the
strength of regiments to 1000 men. He caused the
gunpowder, which had heretofore been carried in
flasks, or in small wooden bandoliers, each contain-
ing a charge, to be made up into cartridges, and
carried in pouches; and he formed each regiment
into two wings of musketeers, and a centre division
of pikemen. He also adopted the practice of form-
ing four regiments into a brigade ; and the number
of colours was afterwards reduced to three in each
regiment. He formed his columns so compactly that
his infantry could resist the charge of the celebrated
Polish horsemen and Austrian cuirassiers ; and his
armies became the admiration of other nations. His
mode of formation was copied by the English,
French, and other European states ; but so great
was the prejudice in favour of ancient customs, that
all his improvements were not adopted until near a
century afterwards.
In 1664 King Charles II. raised a corps for sea-
service, styled the Admiral's regiment. In 1678
each company of 100 men usually consisted of 30
pikemen, 60 musketeers, and 10 men armed with
light firelocks. In this year the King added a com-
pany of men armed with hand grenades to each of
the old British regiments, which was designated the
" grenadier company." Daggers were so contrived
as to fit in the muzzles of the muskets, and bayonets
Xiv INTRODUCTION
similar to those at present in use were adopted about
twenty years afterwards.
An Ordnance regiment was raised in 1685, by
order of King James II., to guard the artillery, and
was designated the Koyal Fusiliers (now 7th Foot).
This corps, and the companies of grenadiers, did
not carry pikes.
King William III. incorporated the Admiral's
regiment in the second Foot Guards, and raised
two Marine regiments for sea-service. During the
war in this reign, each company of infantry (ex-
cepting the fusiliers and grenadiers) consisted of 14
pikemen and 46 musketeers; the captains carried
pikes ; lieutenants, partisans ; ensigns, half-pikes ;
and Serjeants, halberds. After the peace in 1697 the
Marine regiments were disbanded, but were again
formed on the breaking out of the war in 1702.*
During the reign of Queen Anne the pikes were
laid aside, and every infantry soldier was armed
with a musket, bayonet, and sword; the grenadiers
ceased, about the same period, to carry hand gre-
nades ; and the regiments were directed to lay aside
their third colour : the corps of Royal Artillery was
first added to the Army in this reign.
About the year 1745, the men of the battalion
companies of infantry ceased to carry swords ; during
* The 30th, 31st, and 32nd Regiments were formed as Marine corps
in 1702, and were employed as such during the wars in the reign of
Queen Anne. The Marine corps were embarked in the Fleet under
Admiral Sir George Rooke, and were at the taking of Gibraltar, and
in its subsequent defence in 1704 ; they were afterwards employed at
the siege of Barcelona in 1705.
TO THE INFANTRY. XV
the reign of George II. light companies were added
to infantry regiments; and in 1764 a Board of
General Officers recommended that the grenadiers
should lay aside their swords, as that weapon had
never been used during the Seven Years' War. Since
that period the arms of the infantry soldier have been
limited to the musket and bayonet.
The arms and equipment of the British Troops have
seldom differed materially, since the Conquest, from
those of other European states ; and in some respects
the arming has, at certain periods, been allowed to
be inferior to that of the nations with whom they
have had to contend ; yet, under this disadvantage,
the bravery and superiority of the British infantry
have been evinced on very many and most trying
occasions, and splendid victories have been gained
over very superior numbers.
Great Britain has produced a race of lion-like
champions who have dared to confront a host of
foes, and have proved themselves valiant with any
arms. At Crecy, King Edward III., at the head of
about 30,000 men, defeated, on the 26th of August,
1346, Philip King of France, whose army is said to
have amounted to 100,000 men ; here British valour
encountered veterans of renown : — the King of Bo-
hemia, the King of Majorca, and many princes and
nobles were slain, and the French army was routed
and cut to pieces. Ten years afterwards, Edward
Prince of Wales, who was designated the Black
Prince, defeated, at Poictiers, with 14,000 men,
a French army of 60,000 horse, besides infantry,
and took John I., King of France, and his son
XVI INTRODUCTION
Philip, prisoners. On the 25th of October, 1415,
King Henry V., with an army of about 13,000
men, although greatly exhausted by marches, pri-
vations, and sickness, defeated, at Agincourt, the
Constable of France, at the head of the flower of
the French nobility and an army said to amount to
60,000 men, and gained a complete victory.
During the seventy years' war between the United
Provinces of the Netherlands and the Spanish mo-
narchy, which commenced in 1578 and terminated
in 1648, the British infantry in the service of the
States-General were celebrated for their uncon-
querable spirit and firmness;* and in the thirty
years' war between the Protestant Princes and the
Emperor of Germany, the British Troops in the ser-
vice of Sweden and other states were celebrated for
deeds of heroism. f In the wars of Queen Anne,
the fame of the British army under the great
MARLBOROUGH was spread throughout the world;
and if we glance at the achievements performed
within the memory of persons now living, there is
abundant proof that the Britons of the present age
are not inferior to their ancestors in the qualities
* The brave Sir Roger Williams, in his Discourse on War, printed
in 1590, observes: — "I persuade myself ten thousand of our nation
would beat thirty thousand of theirs (the Spaniards) out of the field,
let them be chosen where they list." Yet at this time the Spanish
infantry was allowed to be the best disciplined in Europe. For
instances of valour displayed by the British Infantry during the
Seventy Years' War, sec the Historical Record of the Third Foot, or
Buffs.
f Vide the Historical Record of the First, or Royal Regiment of
Foot.
THE INFANTRY. Xvii
which constitute good soldiers. Witness the deeds
of the brave men, of whom there are many now
surviving, who fought in Egypt in 1801, under the
brave Abercromby, and compelled the French army,
which had been vainly styled Invincible, to eva-
cuate that country ; also the services of the gallant
Troops during the arduous campaigns in the Penin-
sula, under the immortal WELLINGTON ; and the
determined stand made by the British Army at
Waterloo, where Napoleon Bonaparte, who had
long been the inveterate enemy of Great Britain,
and had sought and planned her destruction by
every means he could devise, was compelled to
leave his vanquished legions to their fate, and to
place himself at the disposal of the British Govern-
ment. These achievements, with others of recent
dates in the distant climes of India, prove that the
same valour and constancy which glowed in the
breasts of the heroes of Cre£y, Poictiers, Agin-
court, Blenheim, and Ramilies, continue to animate
the Britons of the nineteenth century.
The British Soldier is distinguished for a robust
and muscular frame, — intrepidity which no danger
can appal, — unconquerable spirit and resolution, —
patience in fatigue and privation, and cheerful obe-
dience to his superiors. These qualities, united with
an excellent system of order and discipline to regu-
late and give a skilful direction to the energies and
adventurous spirit of the hero, and a wise selection
of officers of superior talent to command, whose
presence inspires confidence, — have been the lead-
ing causes of the splendid victories gained by the
b
XV111 INTRODUCTION TO
British arms.* The fame of the deeds of the past
and present generations in the various battle-fields
where the robust sons of Albion have fought and
conquered, surrounds the British arms with a halo
of glory ; these achievements will live in the page
of history to the end of time.
The records of the several regiments will be found
to contain a detail of facts of an interesting cha-
racter, connected with the hardships, sufferings,
and gallant exploits of British soldiers in the vari-
ous parts of the world where the calls of their Coun-
try and the commands of their Sovereign have
required them to proceed in the execution of their
* " Under the blessing of Divine Providence, His Majesty ascribes
the successes which have attended the exertions of his troops in
Egypt to that determined bravery which is inherent in Britons ; but
His Majesty desires it may be most solemnly and forcibly impressed
on the consideration of every part of the army, that it has been a
strict observance of order, discipline, and military system, which
has given the full energy to the native valour of the troops, and has
enabled them proudly to assert the superiority of the national mili-
tary character, in situations uncommonly arduous, and under circum-
stances of peculiar difficulty." — General Orders in 1801.
In the General Orders issued by Lieut.-General Sir John Hope
(afterwards Lord Hopetoun), congratulating the army upon the
successful result of the Battle of Corunna, on the 16th of January,
1809, it is stated:— " On no occasion has the undaunted valour of
British troops ever been more manifest. At the termination of a
severe and harassing march, rendered necessary by the superiority
which the enemy had acquired, and which had materially impaired
the efficiency of the troops, many disadvantages were to be encoun-
tered. These have all been surmounted by the conduct of the troops
themselves ; and the enemy has been taught, that whatever advan-
tages of position or of numbers he may possess, there is inherent
in the British officers and soldiers a bravery that knows not how to
yield, — that no circumstances can appal,— and that will ensure vic-
tory when it is to be obtained by the exertion of any human means.
THE INFANTRY. XIX
duty, whether in active continental operations, or
in maintaining colonial territories in distant and
unfavourable climes.
The superiority of the British infantry has been
pre-eminently set forth in the wars of six centuries,
and admitted by the greatest commanders which
Europe has produced. The formations and move-
ments of this arme, as at present practised, while
they are adapted to every species of warfare, and
to all probable situations and circumstances of ser-
vice, are calculated to show forth the brilliancy of
military tactics calculated upon mathematical and
scientific principles. Although the movements and
evolutions have been copied from the continental
armies, yet various improvements have from time
to time been introduced, to ensure that simplicity
and celerity by which the superiority of the national
military character is maintained. The rank and in -
fluence, which Great Britain has attained among
the nations of the world, have in a great measure
been purchased by the valour of the Army, and to
persons, who have the welfare of their country at
heart, the records of the several regiments cannot
fail to prove interesting.
JEIETTY TH1IE1U)
HISTORICAL RECORD
OF THE
FIFTY-THIRD,
OR
THE SHROPSHIRE REGIMENT OF FOOT.
IN the winter of 1755, when the attacks made by the 1755
French on the British settlements beyond the Allegany
Mountains, in North America, appeared to render a
war between the two countries inevitable, King George
II. resolved to augment the strength of his regular
army, and a letter of service was addressed to Colonel
William Whitmore, major in the third foot guards,
authorizing him to raise, form, and discipline a regiment
of foot, of ten companies, which was numbered the
FIFTY-FIFTH; but two colonial corps being soon after-
wards disbanded, viz., Major-General Shirley's and
Major-General Sir William Pepperell's, which had
been numbered the Fiftieth and Fifty-first regiments,
it obtained rank as FIFTY-THIRD regiment.*
This regiment was raised in the south of England:
its uniform was cocked hats ; red coats, faced with red,
lined with yellow, and ornamented with yellow lace ;
* In December, 1755, eleven regiments of infantry were raised,
which have been since retained on the Establishment of the Arm) ,
and are numbered from the 50th to the 60th regiments inclusive.
2 HISTORICAL RECORD OF THE FIFTY-THIRD, OR
1755 red waistcoats and breeches, and white gaiters. The
colonelcy was conferred on Colonel William Whitmorc,
by commission dated the 21st of December, 1755 ; the
lieut.-colonelcy was given to Major George Craufurd,
from the thirty-fifth regiment, then in Ireland ; and
Captain William Arnot was nominated major.
1756 Early in 1756 the formation of the regiment was
completed, and the following officers were appointed to
commissions in the corps : —
Colonel, William Whitmorc.
Lieutenant- Colonel, Geo. Craufurd. Major, Win. Arnot.
Captains.
John Lindsay.
Geo. Sempill.
Tho. Thompson.
Jas. Wakeman.
Tho. Benson.
Captain - Lieut . Lord
Jas. Mc.Farlane.
Robert Lamb.
Viscount Allen.
Lieutenants.
Gco. O. Kenlock.
Jas. Worsley.
John Slowc.
Rob. Wright.
Jno. Campbell.
Wm. Hughes.
Chs. Chambre.
Jno. Donellan.
Tho. Dyson.
John Manmoro.
Ensigns.
Cha. L. Richards.
Geo. Massey.
Dougal Ewart.
Tho. Moore.
Lodovick Grant.
Geo. C. Brown.
John Wright.
Westley Groves.
Jas. Frognorton.
Chaplain, Geo. Watkins. Adjutant, J. Frognorton.
Surgeon, Tho. London. Quarter- Muster, Cosmo Gordon.
The formation of the regiment being completed, it
received orders to embark for Gibraltar, and was
stationed at that important fortress during the whole
of the seven years' war, and remained there until 1768.
1758 In October, 1758, Colonel Whitmore was removed
to the ninth regiment of foot ; and was succeeded in
1759 the colonelcy of the FIFTY-THIRD, in April, 1759, by
Colonel John Toovey, from lieut -colonel in the royal
dragoons.
THE SHROPSHIRE REGIMENT OF FOOT. 3
The regiment was relieved from duty at the fortress 1768
of Gibraltar in 176S, when it embarked for Ireland,
where it was quartered during the following eight
years.
Colonel Toovey died in the early part of the year 1770
1770, and King George III. conferred the colonelcy on
Colonel R. Dalrymple Home Elphinstone, who had
commanded the l'20th regiment of foot, which was
disbanded after the peace in 1763.
While the regiment was stationed in Ireland, the 1775
misunderstanding between Great Britain and her
North American provinces on the subject of taxation,
was followed by open hostilities; and a body of Ame-
rican troops undertook the siege of Quebec.
In the spring of 1776 the FIFTY-THIRD and several 1776
other corps proceeded, under Major-General Burgoyne,
for the relief of Q uebec : this regiment embarked from
Ireland on the 4th of April, arrived in Canada towards
the end of May, and took part in the operations by
which the American troops were driven from the
confines of the British provinces. During the winter
the regiment was stationed at Chambly.
The flank companies of the regiment were selected, 1777
in the spring of 1777, to form part of the force under
Lieut.-General Burgoyne, who was directed to pene-
trate the United States from Lake Champlain to the
river Hudson, and advance upon Albany, with the
view of bringing that part of the country into submis-
sion to the British crown. The troops employed on
this service proceeded to Crown Point in boats, and
afterwards moved towards Ticonderago, forcing the
Americans to abandon that post, and pursuing them a
considerable distance. Some fighting occurred, in which
the British soldiers evinced great gallantry, and the
4 HISTORICAL RECORD OF THE FIFTY-THIRD, OR
1777 companies oi the FIFTY-THIRD had opportunities of dis-
tinguishing themselves. The army advanced towards
the river Hudson, encountering much greater difficulties
than had been expected. The country through which
it marched was a wilderness ; numerous obstructions had
to be removed, forty bridges had to be constructed, and
others repaired ; but every difficulty was overcome by
the cheerful perseverance of the soldiers. Their hard-
ships were, however, daily augmented; and after passing
the river Hudson, they were opposed by very superior
numbers of the enemy. Several actions occurred, and
British valour was conspicuous ; but incessant toil and
a scarcity of provisions reduced the army to 3oOO men,
who were environed by 16,000 Americans, and their
retreat cut off. Under these circumstances a convention
was concluded, by which the British agreed to lay down
their arms on condition of being sent to England. The
Americans afterwards violated the conditions of the
convention, and detained the English soldiers some
time.
1778 Eight companies of the regiment had remained in
1781 Canada, where they were eventually joined by the
flank companies, and the regiment was stationed in
that part of the British dominions several years.
1782 The American war terminated in 1782 : — In the
same year the regiment received instructions to assume
the title of the FIFTY-THIRD, OR THE SHROPSHIRE REGI-
MENT, and to cultivate a connexion with that county,
which might, at all times, be useful towards recruiting.
1789 In the summer of 1789 the regiment, being then in
garrison at Quebec, was relieved by the twenty-fourth
foot, and embarked for England, where it landed on
the 31st of August. It passed the winter at Bridge-
1790 north, and towards the end of the year 1700 embarked
THE SHROPSHIRE REGIMENT OF FOOT. 5
on board the fleet to serve as marines, on which service 1790
it was employed a short time.
Embarking from Plymouth on the 17th of February, 1191
1791, the regiment proceeded to Glasgow, and was
stationed in Scotland during the year 1792. 1792
In the meantime a revolution had taken place in 1793
France, and in 1793 the republicans of that country
beheaded their king. They also attacked the frontiers
of Holland, when a body of British troops was sent to
the Netherlands to take part in the war. The FIFTY-
THIRD regiment was one of the first corps selected to
proceed on foreign service ; it embarked from Scotland
in March, and, after landing in Flanders, advanced up
the country to Tournay.
The regiment formed part of the column under the
command of His Royal Highness the Duke of York,
which passed the Ronelle river on the 23rd of May,
and forced the French to quit several batteries of their
strong camp at Famars. It was stated in the public
despatch sent to England on this occasion — " The troops
" of the different nations displayed the utmost firmness
" and intrepidity. The British who had an opportunity
"of distinguishing themselves, were the fourteenth
" and FIFTY-THIRD regiments, with the battalion formed
"from the light infantry and grenadier companies,
" commanded by Major- General Sir Ralph Aber-
" cromby." The regiment lost four men on this occasion.
This success was followed by the siege of Valenciennes,
in which service the regiment was actively employed,
and had several men killed and wounded. It also
sustained some loss at the storming of the outworks on
the 25th of July, which was followed by the surrender
cf the fortress.
From Valenciennes the British troops proceeded
G HISTORICAL RECORD OF THE FIFTY-THIRD, OR
1793 towards Dunkirk, which place was besieged ; but cir-
cumstances occurred which rendered it necessary for
the army to withdraw from this position : and the
FIFTY-THIRD regiment was detached to the town of
Nieuport. The French made a strenuous effort to
capture this place on the 24th of October, by a coup-
de-main, when the FIFTY-THIRD resisted the attack of a
very superior force, with heroic gallantry, and their
commanding officer, Major Robert Matthews, par-
ticularly distinguished himself. The gallant conduct of
the regiment on this occasion excited universal admi-
ration. Its loss was Lieutenant Phanuel Latham and
ten soldiers killed ; Captain Ronald C. Fergusson and
eighteen soldiers wounded. The French continued to
cannonade the place several days, causing the regiment
a further loss of thirteen men ; but the garrison being
augmented, the enemy retired. General Sir Charles
(afterwards Earl) Grey, who arrived with a reinforce-
ment, stated in his despatch — " The artillery under
" Captain Bothwick, with the FIFTY-THIRD regiment,
" whose loss has been greatest, have been very much
" distinguished ; and I think it only an act of justice
" to mention in terms of the highest approbation
" Major Matthews (commanding the FIFTY-THIRD),
" whose long services and particular exertions on
" this occasion will, I hope, recommend him to His
" Majesty's notice."
The Royal authority was given for the regiment to bear
the word " Nieuport " on its colours, to commemorate
its distinguished conduct in the defence of that fortress.
1794 General Elphinstone died in the spring of 1794,
when the colonelcy of the regiment was conferred on
Major-General Gerard Lake, from lieut.-colonel in the
first foot guards.
THE SHROPSHIRE REGIMENT OF FOOT. 7
Taking the field in April of this year, the regiment 1*J94
was engaged in the operations by which the enemy was
driven from his positions at Vaux, Prdmont, Marets, &c.,
on the 17th of that month, when the Duke of York
expressed in general orders the sense he entertained of
the bravery and conduct of the troops engaged.
The regiment was subsequently employed in covering
the siege of Landrecies; it was in line on the 26th of
April, when the attack of the French on the British
position at Cateau was repulsed ; and after the surrender
of Landrecies, the regiment marched to the vicinity of
Tournay.
On the 10th of May the position near Tournay was
attacked, and the French were repulsed with severe
loss.
A combined attack on the posts occupied by the
French army was made on the 1 7th of May ; when the
FOURTEENTH, THIRTY-SEVENTH, and FIFTY-THIRD regi-
ments, forming the second brigade, under Major-General
Fox,* were attached to the column under the Duke of
York's immediate command, which captured Lannoy,
Roubaix, and Mouveaux ; and the three regiments were
afterwards posted on the main road from Lisle to
Roubaix. Meanwhile the failure of the other columns
of the allied army had left the British troops exposed
to the whole weight and power of the enemy's over-
whelming numbers, and early on the 1 8th of May the
fourteenth, thirty-seventh, and FIFTY- THIRD regiments
were attacked by a numerous force. A historian of
that campaign states, — " Major-General Fox, with the
* The spirited conduct of this brigade, on several occasions when
engaged with the enemy, had given it the appellation of the
" Fighting Brigade."
o HISTORICAL RECORD OF THE FIFTY-THIRD, OR
1794 " fourteenth, thirty-seventh, and FIFTY-THIRD regi-
" ments, was engaged with the whole of the column
" which had marched from Lisle, and the different corps,
" which had driven back the rest of the army, fell upon
" his flanks and rear. Perhaps there is not on record a
" single instance of greater gallantry and more soldier-
" like conduct than was exhibited on that occasion by
" these three regiments. At length Major- General Fox,
" finding that the whole army had left him, began to
" think of retreating ; to effect which it was necessary
" to get possession of the causeway leading to Leers,
" and before that could be accomplished, he was obliged
" to charge several battalions of the enemy, who were
" astonished that such a handful of men should pre-
" sume to give them battle, and expected every moment
" that they would lay down their arms ; but with a
" degree of intrepidity that words cannot describe, and
" is, indeed, scarcely conceivable, they gained the
" wished for point ; then forming with such regularity
" that the enemy could not assail them, they secured
" their, retreat towards Leers, and the next morning
" joined General Otto's column. This brigade, which
" consisted of only eleven hundred and twenty men,
" left in the field five hundred and thirty-three."*
The FIFTY-THIRD regiment had Lieutenant John
Rhind, eight Serjeants, two drummers, and one hundred
and ninety-one rank and file killed and missing ; Major
Thomas Scott, Captain Thomas Brisbane, Ensign E.
Pierce, one serjeant, and fourteen rank and file
wounded f
* Jones's Journal of the Campaign of 1794.
•( Captain Brisbane, now General Sir Thomas Brisbane, G.C.B.,
commanded the light company on this occasion, which consisted
of 33 men, of whom '22 were killed or wounded.
THE SHROPSHIRE REGIMENT OF FOOT. 9
Resuming its post in front of Tournay, the regiment 1794
was in line on the 22nd of May, when a numerous
French army attacked the position occupied by the
allies. The right wing of the army being pressed by
the enemy, Major-General Fox's brigade was detached
to its support. Speaking of the FOURTEENTH, THIRTY-
SEVENTH, and FIFTY-THIRD regiments on this occasion,
the Duke of York stated in his despatch, " Nothing
" could exceed the spirit and gallantry with which they
<' conducted themselves, particularly in the storming
" of the village of Pontechin, which they forced with
" the bayonet. The enemy immediately began to re-
" treat." In general orders it was stated, " His Royal
*' Highness the Commander-in-Chief desires to express
" his particular thanks to Major-General Fox ; to the
" fourteenth regiment, under the command of Major
" Ramsey ; to the thirty-seventh regiment, commanded
"by Captain Lightburne; to the FI FT Y -THIRD regi-
" ment, commanded by Major Wiseman ; and to the
" detachment of artillery that was attached to them,
" under the command of Captain Trotter, for their
" intrepidity and good conduct, which reflects the
" greatest honor upon themselves, at the same time
" that it was highly instrumental in deciding the im-
" portant victory of the 22nd instant."
In Jones's Journal it is stated : — " There never was
" a better opportunity of putting British valour to the
" test ; nor could there be anything more conspicuous
" than the proof they gave of what highly disciplined
" soldiers, well led on, may be brought to do. It ap-
" pears almost impossible ; but it is a fact, that a single
" British brigade, less than six hundred men, on that
" great day ^absolutely won the battle ; for had they
" not come up, the allies would have been beaten."
10 HISTORICAL RECORD OF THE FIFTY-THIRD, OR
1794 The regiment had six rank and file killed : Lieuten-
ants Rogers and Robertson, Ensign Pierce, one serjeant,
and twenty-three rank and file wounded ; twelve rank
and file missing.
The word " TOURNAY," displayed by royal authority
on the colour of the regiment, commemorates its heroic
conduct on this occasion.
The enemy afterwards acquired so great a superiority
of numbers, that the British army withdrew from its
position, and a series of retrograde movements brought
the army to the banks of the Rhine and the Waal.
1195 A severe frost having rendered the rivers passable
on the ice, the British troops retired through Holland
to Germany. The FIFTY-THIRD shared in the toil,
privation, and suffering occasioned by long inarches
through a country covered with ice and snow : in the
spring of J795 they embarked for England, where
they arrived in May.
The regiment was encamped near Southampton,
where its ranks were completed by drafts from the
109th regiment; in November it embarked for the
West Indies, and afterwards sailed with the armament,
under General Sir Ralph Abercromby, for the conquest
of the French West India Islands. The disasters which
befell this fleet from storms at sea, and the number of
shipwrecks which took place, are recorded in the naval
history of Great Britain.
1796 Four companies of the regiment, commanded by
Major Brisbane, arrived at Barbadoes in March, 1796,
and they formed part of the armament which pro-
ceeded against St. Lucia ; three other companies also
arrived in time to share in the enterprise. A landing
was effected on the 26th and 27th of April, and at
midnight on the last-mentioned day, Brigadier-General
THE SHROPSHIRE REGIMENT OF FOOT. 1 1
(afterwards Sir John) Moore advanced with seven 1796
companies of the FIFTY-THIRD, under Lieut. -Colonel
John Abercromby, and a detachment of Rangers along
a defile in the mountains, and falling in with the
enemy's post at Morm Chabot, carried it after a con-
siderable resistance. The FIFTY-THIRD distinguished
themselves on this occasion ; and Sir Ralph Aber-
cromby's thanks were expressed to the regiment in
orders, accompanied by the declaration that he would
bring its conduct before His Royal Highness the Duke
of York.
The loss of the regiment on this occasion was one
drummer and twelve rank and file killed ; Captain
Charles Stuart, Lieutenant Richard Collins, and John
Carmichael, two Serjeants, forty-four rank and file
wounded ; one drummer and eight private soldiers
missing.
The regiment was engaged in the subsequent opera-
tions for the reduction of the island, which was accom-
plished before the end of May ; and the Royal authority
was given for the word " ST. LUCIA " to be borne on
the colours of the regiment, to commemorate its dis-
tinguished conduct on this service.
After the reduction of St. Lucia, the regiment was
embarked for St. Vincent, where an insurrection had
broken out, and the native Caribs and many French
colonists were in arms against the British authority.
The insurgents were speedily overcome, and the Caribs
fled to the woods. The hostile spirit which these
people had long shown towards the British interests,
occasioned the government to resolve to remove them
from the island. The measures for this purpose were *
attended with much harassing duty to the troops, and
many skirmishes occurred ; but the Caribs were even-
12 HISTORICAL RECORD OF THE FIFTY-THIRD, OR
1 796 tually forced to submit. The regiment was afterwards
withdrawn from the island, when it received the follow-
ing communication from Major-General Peter Hunter,
dated 26th November, 1796 :— -
" SIR, — I beg you, and the officers and soldiers of the
" FIFTY-THIRD regiment, under your command, will
" accept of my best thanks for the zeal, activity, and
" humanity which have been testified by you and them,
" on all occasions, while under my command, during
" the brigand and Caribbee war in the island of St.
" Vincent. I am also requested by the Council and
" Assembly of the island to communicate, not only to
" the officers and soldiers now serving in St. Vincent,
" but to all those whom I have had the honor to com-
" mand since my arrival here, the sentiments that the
" Assembly and inhabitants of this colony entertain of
" the good conduct and behaviour of the troops, and to
" offer their warmest, most grateful, and unfeigned
" thanks for the eminent services the army has ren-
" dered this island."
Major-General Lake having been removed to the
seventy-third regiment, he was succeeded in the
colonelcy of the FIFTY-THIRD by Major-General Wcl-
bore Ellis Doyle, by commission dated the 2nd of No-
vember, 1796.
1797 Spain having united with France in hostility to
Great Britain, the FIFTY-THIRD were employed in an
expedition against the Spanish settlement of Trinidad,
which was captured in February, 1797, without loss.
The army subsequently proceeded against Porto
Rico, and a landing was effected on the 18th of April ;
but the expedition proved of insufficient strength for
the capture of this pi ace, and the troops re-embarked on
the night of the 30th of April. The FIFTY-THIRD had
THE SHROPSHIRE REGIMENT OF FOOT. 13
three rank and file killed ; Captain John Rhind and 1797
three men wounded ; Captain Samuel Dover taken
prisoner. The regiment returned to St. Vincent.
On the death of Major-General Doyle, the colonelcy 1*798
was conferred on Lieut.-General Charles Crosbie, from
the late Royal Dublin regiment, his commission bearing
date the 3rd of January, 1 798.
After remaining at St. Vincent during the years 1799
1798 and 1799, the regiment was removed to St.
Lucia in 1800. 1800
At the peace of Amiens, in 1802, the island of St. 1802
Lucia was restored to France, when the regiment re-
turned to England, much reduced in numbers by the
climate of the West Indies.
On the arrival of the regiment in England, the men 1S03
enlisted for limited service were discharged at Hilsea
barracks, and in January, 1805, it marched, under the
command of Lieut.-Colonel Lightburne, for Shrews-
bury.
The first battalion, having been completed to eight 1805
hundred rank and file, embarked at Portsmouth, on
the 20th of April, 1805, for the East Indies, under the
orders of Lieut.-Colonel Sebright Mawby. The fleet
sailed under the convoy of His Majesty's ship "Blen-
heim," on the 24th of April: in the early part of
August it encountered a French line-of-battlc ship and
a frigate, when some firing took place, but nothing
serious occurred ; and on the 23rd of that month it
arrived in Madras roads, when the FIFTY-THIRD landed,
and marched into Fort St. George, where they lost a
very promising officer, Captain Henry Knight Erskine,
whose death was much regretted. In October they
proceeded in boats to the fertile district of Dinapore,
on the right bank of the Ganges, and occupied that
14 HISTORICAL RECORD OF THE FIFTY-THIRD, OR
1805 station, in the midst of a country abounding with grain,
cattle, and sheep.
1806 In consequence of the unhealthy state of the
battalion, it was withdrawn from Dinapore, when
Major-General Clarke expressed, in orders, his ap-
probation of its conduct while under his command,
and the high sense he entertained of the zeal and abili-
ties of Lieut. -Colonel Mawby and of the officers gene-
rally. It arrived at Berhampore, a considerable station
on the left bank of the Hoogly river, on the 6th of July.
1807 General Crosbie having died, the colonelcy was con-
ferred on Major-General the Honorable John Aber-
cromby, by commission dated the 21st of March, 1807,
the sixth anniversary of the battle of Alexandria.
In September the first battalion embarked in boats
to proceed up the Ganges, when Major-General
Palmer recorded, in orders, his approbation of its
exemplary conduct while stationed at Berhampore.
After a voyage of eleven weeks in boats up the river,
the battalion landed at Cawnpore on the 29th of No-
vember, and marched into the spacious barracks on an
elevated site at that place.
The gallant conduct of two Serjeants and fourteen
private soldiers of the first battalion on board of the
Company's ship Fame, when it was captured by a
French frigate (the Piedmontaise), was rewarded by a
donation from the Court of Directors, of 51. to each of
the Serjeants, and 41. to each private soldier.
The first battalion was stationed at Cawnpore during
the year, and was highly commended in orders for its
correct discipline and excellent conduct.
1809 On the 19th of January, 1809, three companies were
detached, under Captain Piercy, to the province of
Bundelcund, and joining the troops under Lieut.-
THE SHROPSHIRE REGIMENT OF FOOT. 15
Colonel Martindell, were employed in reducing some 1809
refractory native Sirdars. These companies were at
the siege and capture of the fort of Adjighion, situate
upon a lofty mountain ; and after the surrender of this
place they rejoined the regiment, which took the field
in November, and joined a numerous division under
Lieut.-Colonel Martindell This body of troops was
called out in consequence of signs of defection in the
native Madras army, and it performed many long and
difficult marches.
The first battalion continued in the field until 1810
March, 1810, when it returned to Cawnpore. Lieut.-
Colonel Mawby, the officers and soldiers, received
the thanks of the Commander of the field force for their
excellent conduct.
During the year 1811 the first battalion remained 1811
at Cawnpore, where Lieut.-Colonel Buckland assumed
the command.
Five companies of the first battalion proceeded 1812
from their quarters at Cawnpore to take part with
the division under Colonel Martindell, in the re-
duction of the strong fortress of Callinger, before
which place the troops arrived on the 19th of January,
1812. A breach having been reported practicable,
the fortress was assaulted on the 2nd of February.
A Serjeant and twelve privates of the FIFTY-THIRD
regiment formed the forlorn -hope, which led the
assault of the breach ; they were followed by the
grenadiers and light infantry of the FIFTY-THIRD,
under Captain Fraser, supported by the remaining
three companies of the FIFTY-THIRD, and the grenadiers
and li^ht infantry of the native regiments. The for-
tress of Callinger is situated upon a high rock of diffi-
cult access and great extent, in one of the ranges of
16 HISTORICAL RECORD OF THE FIFTY THIRD, OR
1812 mountains in the province of Allahabad ; and when that
portion of the country was ceded to the British, this
strong fortress, which had resisted native armies,
became the asylum of the disaffected and of the
banditti of the province. These desperate characters
crowded the breach as the FIFTY-THIRD rushed forward
to storm the works. Select marksmen of the garrison
were supplied with loaded muskets by other men
as fast as they could fire them, and huge stones were
in readiness to be thrown upon the assailants. The
signal being given, the storming party, under the
orders of Lieut. -Colonel Sebright Maw by and the
officers and soldiers of the FIFTY-THIRD, made a gal-
lant effort to gain the breach; ladders were placed
against the rock and the men ascended with en-
thusiastic ardour ; but showers of huge stones and
a storm of musketry destroyed every man who gained
the top of the rock ; at the same time it was found
impracticable to get other ladders fixed to communicate
with a second small projection of the rock which ap-
peared in the breach ; under these circumstances the
storming party was ordered to retire. The FIFTY-
THIRD had Captain Fraser, Lieutenant and Adjutant
Nice, one serjeant, one corporal, and ten private
soldiers killed ; Captain Cuppage, Lieutenants Stone,
Young, Stewart, Daly, Cruice, Davis, and Booth, and
one hundred and twenty soldiers wounded ; several
men died of their wounds.
In regimental orders issued on the 3rd of February,
it was stated : — " Lieut -Colonel Maw by has not words
" to express his admiration of the conduct of every
" officer and soldier of the FIFTY-THIRD in the storm of
" yesterday ; anything he could say on the occasion
" would fall very short of what they deserved, for
THE SHROPSHIRE REGIMENT OF FOOT. 17
" greater bravery and perseverance never were dis- 1812
" played by men, and had it been possible to have
" carried the breach, their bravery would have done
" it. His feelings for the severe loss sustained by the
' ' regiment may be imagined, but cannot be expressed ;
" it is, however, a great consolation to know that the
" whole army before Callinger speaks of their bravery
" in terms of the highest commendation."
The conduct of the storming party was also com-
mended in orders by Colonel Martindell, who stated, —
" If the difficulties which they had to surmount had
" been found of a nature to be overcome, the persever-
" ing energy and undaunted courage of the troops,
" so very admirably conspicuous, would have been
" crowned with that success, which their animated
" exertions, and steady cool bravery, so eminently
" deserved."
In general orders by the government it was stated,
" His Lordship in Council cordially unites in the senti-
" ments of admiration expressed by His Excellency .
" the Commander-in-Chief, of the exemplary exertions,
" zeal, and persevering courage manifested by Lieut. -
" Colonel Mawby, FIFTY-THIRD regiment, and the
" brave officers and men acting under his command."
Lieut. -Colonel Mawby particularly reported the gal-
lant conduct of Serjeant-Major Thomas Clarke, of the
FIFTY-THIRD regiment.
In consequence of the difficulty experienced in the
reduction of Callinger, Major Piercy, who commanded
the five companies of the regiment left at Cawnpore,
received orders to proceed as rapidly as possible to
join the besieging army; but before he arrived, the
garrison had surrendered. The cool determined
bravery of the officers and soldiers of the FIFTY-THIRD,
c
18 HISTORICAL RECORD OF THE FIFTY-THIRD, OR
1812 at the storming of the breach, had produced a great
impression on the defenders of the fortress, who
declared to their commander, that they would not
stand a second assault : the Killedar, therefore, was
forced to capitulate and deliver up the fortress.
The regiment afterwards returned to Cawnpore,
where its appearance and discipline elicited the com-
mendations of the Commander-in-Chief in India at a
review in September of this year. In October the
regiment marched to Meerut on the north-west fron-
tier.
1813 During the year 1813 the first battalion was
stationed at Meerut.
In the meantime circumstances had occurred which
occasioned the battalion to be called from its
quarters at Meerut, to take the field against
the Nepaulese, whose depredations on the British
territory could not be restrained without force of arms.
The FIFTY-THIRD marched from Meerut on the 14th of
October, and joined the division of the army appointed
to invade the kingdom of Nepaul, or the Gorca state,
under the orders of Major-General Robert Rollo
Gillespie. This division was directed to penetrate the
Himalaya mountains by the pass of the Deyrah Doon,
and capture the strong fort of Kalunga, situate upon a
peak in the mountains between the rivers Sutlej
and Ganges, which was defended by a garrison of
warlike mountaineers, under a celebrated Hindoo
warrior named Bulbudder.
Two companies of the FIFTY-THIRD, commanded by
Lieutenant Young, were detached with a small column
under Lieut.-Colonel Carpenter of the seventeenth
native infantry, and ascending the Timlee pass, into
the Deyrah valley, joined at midnight on the 24th of
THE SHROPSHIRE REGIMENT OF FOOT. 19
October, another detachment under Colonel Maw by of 1814
the FIFTY-THIRD regiment, who advanced to capture
the fort of Ralunga by a coup-de-main ; but upon ap-
proaching the place, it was found to be a strong work
of excellent stone masonry, more formidable than it
had been represented to be, and not to be taken
without cannon. After a close reconnoissance, Colonel
Mawby retired, and received the acknowledgments of
Major-General Gillespie, in orders, for his conduct on
the occasion. The Major- General afterwards advanced
with the leading corps, and taking with him a few
light field-pieces on the backs of elephants, had them
placed in battery upon a piece of table-land near the
fort, and on the morning of the 31st of October storm-
ing parties were in readiness to attack the fort. The
troops moved forward with great gallantry, but under
such unfavourable circumstances, that the assault
failed ; among the other disasters the pioneers bearing
the ladders fell, from the fire of the garrison, in the
midst of a village of grass huts, which caught fire, and
the storming party was thus deprived of the means for
ascending the walls of the fort. The two companies of
the FIFTY-THIRD lost several men, and had Lieutenants
Young and Anstice severely wounded. Three of the
columns of attack had not advanced, in consequence of
not hearing, or not understanding, the signal, and the
messengers despatched to them never reached their
destination. The columns which had advanced, with-
drew to the village. At this moment three companies
of the FIFTY-THIRD arrived from a long march, under
Captain Wheeler Coultman, and were ordered to join
the storming party, which consisted also of a brigade of
Bengal horse artillery (six-pounders), under the com-
mand of Captain Charles Pratt Kennedy, for the pur.
c2
20 HISTORICAL RECORD OF THE FIFTY-THIRD, OR
1814 pose of making another determined effort to capture
the place. Major- General Gillespie headed the assault
in person. A party of the FIFTY-THIRD dragged two
of the guns forward with ropes up a steep ascent under
a sharp fire, and after overcoming the difficulty of a
stockade across the path, a few shots were fired at a
small gate in the wall, to force it open. A destructive
fire was opened from the walls upon the storming
party, crowded in a narrow space, waiting for the gate
to be forced open and a passage to be made ; Major-
General Gillespie placed himself at the head of the
troops, and while leading the men to the assault, he
fell mortally wounded. The attack failed ; the
storming party retired ; and afterwards withdrew from
before the fort to await the arrival of a battering
train. The FIFTY-THIRD had sixteen men killed and
seventy-five wounded.
The battering train having arrived from Delhi, the
siege was resumed by the troops under Colonel Maw-
by, and on the 27th of November the flank companies
of the FIFTY-THIRD, with one battalion company of the
regiment, and the grenadiers of the native corps,
stormed the breach under the orders of Major William
Ingleby of the FIFTY-THIRD. A numerous body of
mountaineers defended the breach with desperate re-
solution. Major Ingleby was wounded, and withdrew,
leaving the storming party under Captain Coultman.
Lieutenant Harrington and a few men of the FIFTY-
THIRD ascended the breach, but were instantly killed.
The storming party proving not sufficiently numerous
to capture the place, the remaining companies of the
regiment were ordered forward, and the attack was
repeated, but without success: the approach to the
breach proved very difficult, and the defenders
THE SHROPSHIRE REGIMENT OF FOOT. 21
numerous and desperate ; after a severe loss had been 1814
sustained, the storming party was ordered to retire.
Lieutenant Harrington and twenty men of the regiment
were killed on this occasion; Major Ingleby, Captain
Stone, Lieutenants Horsley, Green, and Brodie, Ensign
Aufrere, twelve Serjeants, three drummers, and one
hundred and eighty-four rank and file wounded.
The battery resumed its fire to widen the breach ;
but further loss was prevented by the garrison evacua-
ting the fort, and retreating and forcing their way
through the besieging corps.
From Kalunga the division moved along a ridge of
mountains towards Nahn; the enemy evacuating the
fortifications as the British approached, and retiring
to another ridge of mountains of much greater eleva-
tion. On the 27th of December the flank companies
of the regiment were engaged in driving back the
enemy's outposts, in order to make lodgments for be-
sieging some fortified places on the Jampta heights,
and had one serjeant and eight rank and file killed.
In 1815 the Nepaulese were brought to submission,
and the regiment marched from the camp in the moun-
tains to the banks of the Ganges, where it embarked in
boats and proceeded down the river to Berhampore,
where it landed on the 30th of August, and was joined
by a strong detachment from the secondbattalion, under
the command of Major Giles. On the 20th of October
the regiment again embarked in boats, and proceeded
to Calcutta, where it remained until December, when
it embarked for Madras.
In January, 1816, the first battalion marched from 1816
Madras to Wallajahbad; but in March three com-
panies returned to Madras, and seven proceeded to
the Naggery Pass, to keep in check the plundering
22 HISTORICAL RECORD OF THE FIFTY-THIRD, OR
1816 bands of Pindarees, who infested the British territory
in India at this period. These marauding tribes
having been driven from British India with severe
loss, the seven companies marched to Bangalore, where
they were joined by the detachment from Madras in
June ; also by a detachment from Europe. In Novem-
ber the battalion commenced its march for Trichino-
poly, where it arrived on the 12th of December, after
a march of two hundred and seven miles.
1817 On the 14th of February, 1817, Lieut-General Sir
John Abercromby, G.C.B., died at Marseilles, in the
south of France, at which place he had resided some
time for the benefit of his health. The high military
character and private virtues of this distinguished offi-
cer, with his attachment to, and the lively interest he
took in every thing connected with, the FIFTY-THIRD
regiment, occasioned his death to be much regretted.
He was succeeded by Lieut-General Rowland Lord
Hill, G.C.B., from the ninety-fourth regiment.
Colonel Mawby commanded the regiment in can-
tonments at Trichinopoly ; and in June the flank com-
panies were detached, under the command of Major
Giles, to join a flank battalion forming at Darwah, to
serve with a division of the army under Colonel Pritz-
ler, which was called to take the field in consequence of
several native chiefs having prepared to wage war
against the British power in India,
While the flank companies were in the field, the
strength of the regiment was augmented by the de-
tachment from the second battalion, and a number of
volunteers from the eightieth regiment.
1818 In J818 the regiment sustained great loss from the
cholera.
The flank companies were actively employed with
TUB SHROPSHIRE REGIMENT OF FOOT. 23
the field force under Brigadier- General Pritzler, who 1819
reduced several fortified places to submission to the
British authority, and among others the fort of Copaul
Droog, the garrison of which place made a desperate
defence. The excellent conduct of the troops employed
in this service was made known in general orders dated
the 22nd of June, 1819. The flank battalion led the
assault of the place ; and the conduct of Captain Cup-
page, and Lieutenant Silver of the FIFTY-THIRD
regiment, was particularly noticed. Lieutenant Silver
was wounded.
Leaving Trichinopoly in January, 1820, the regiment 1820
commenced its march for Bellary, a distance of about
three hundred and ninety miles, under the orders of
Colonel Mawby. The cholera broke out in the regi-
ment on the march, and it lost a highly esteemed offi-
cer, Lieut-- Colonel Fehrszen, who had distinguished
himself while serving with the second battalion in
Spain and the south of France ; he was buried with
military honours at Salem. Lieutenant George Fitz-
Gerald, who had also served with reputation in the
Peninsular War, died a few days afterwards, and was
buried at Nimdydroog. While passing through the
Mysore, the cholera disappeared ; and on the 25th of
February the regiment arrived at Bellary ; having lost
two officers and eighteen soldiers on the march.
Colonel Mawby having been promoted to the rank
of major-general, the command of the regiment devolved
on Lieut.-Colonel Mansel.
After halting at Bellary five months, the regiment
commenced its march for Bangalore, where it arrived
on the 1st of August. Lieutenant John Wilton, a gal-
lant and meritorious officer, died on the 28th of
August, much regretted.
24 HISTORICAL RECORD OF THE FIFTY-THIRD, OR
1820 The flank battalion, under Major Giles, had con-
tinued to perform much arduous and valuable service,
under Brigadier-General Pritzler ; but the necessity
for its continuing in the field having ceased, the
several companies marched to join their respective
regiments. The companies of the FIFTY-THIRD arrived
at head-quarters on the 30th of November. The
gallant, zealous, and exemplary conduct of these com-
panies, during the three years and a half which they
had been employed on field service, was highly com-
mended in orders. The regiment was at this period
commanded by Lieut.- Colonel Edward Carey Fleming.
1821 Major John Giles, who had commanded the flank bat-
talion on field service with reputation, died on the 2nd
of May, 1821, at Cannanore. Quarter-master Robert
Blackie died soon afterwards ; he had risen by merit
from the ranks of the regiment, and had held the com-
mission of quarter-master nineteen years : he was
much respected in the regiment.
1822 In May, 1822, the regiment quitted the Mysore,
having first received the thanks of Lieut.-General
Bowser, in division orders, for its exemplary conduct,
and proceeded to Fort St. George, where it arrived
on the 5th of June ; having lost, on this march of
two hundred miles, fifteen men by cholera. Major
Wheeler Coultman also died on the 22nd of May.
The forty-first regiment arriving from England in
July, the FIFTY-THIRD marched out of Fort St.
George and encamped at a village on the Poonamallee
Road, and were placed under orders for embarkation
for England.
1823 Seven hundred and fifty-six non-commissioned offi-
cers and soldiers volunteered to transfer their services
to other corps, and to remain in India ; twenty-one
THE SHROPSHIRE REGIMENT OF FOOT.
25
old soldiers were placed on the out pension of Chelsea 1823
Hospital, and permitted to reside in India ; and the
regiment embarked from Madras on the 9th of March,
1823, after a service of eighteen years in India.* It
landed at Gravesend on the 8th of July, and marched
to Chatham, where it halted a few days, and afterwards
proceeded to Hilsea barracks. It was subsequently
removed to Weedon barracks, and active measures
were adopted for recruiting its numbers.
In 1825 the regiment proceeded to Chatham, and 1825
afterwards to Portsmouth, where it was inspected and
reviewed by its colonel, General Lord Hill, in May, 1826
1826, and elicited his Lordship's approbation. It after-
wards marched into L ancashire, and in October em-
barked at Liverpool for Ireland : it landed at Dublin,
and marched from thence to Templemore.
Leaving Templemore in the spring of 1827, the 1827
regiment proceeded to Cork ; and in the autumn the
head-quarters were removed to Kilkenny.
In April, 1828, the regiment marched to Dublin; 1828
and in the spring of 1829 to Birr, where it was formed 1829
* Return showing the number of officers and soldiers who died, or
were killed in action, with those invalided, from 1805 to 1822.
Year
Killed and Died.
Invalided
Year
Rilled and Died
Invalided
Officers
Soldiers
Officers Soldiers
1805
1
39
1815
1
90
54
1806
1
109
..
1816
1
53
29
1807
.
49
45
1817
3
111
57
1808
1
77
17
1818
10
103
45
1809
§
56
13
1819
2
64
35
1810
1
32
21
1820
4
80
43
1811
.
28
17
1821
2
38
28
1812
1813
5
1
75
33
45
21
1822
1
50
1814
1
80
15
Total
35
1167
485
26 HISTORICAL RECORD OF THE FIFTY-THIRD, OR
1829 into six service and four reserve companies, preparatory
to the former proceeding to a foreign station.
The service companies proceeded to Cork, where
they embarked on the 2nd of November for Gibraltar,
and arrived at that important fortress in December.
1830 A pair of new colours bearing the words "NiEu-
PORT," " TOURNAY," " ST. L.UCIA," " TALAVERA,"
" SALAMANCA," " VITTORIA," " PYRENEES," " NIVELLE,"
" TOULOUSE/' and " PENINSULA," having been re-
ceived, the regiment was formed on parade on the 12th
of January, 1830, under Lieut.-Colonel James Con-
sidine's command ; the colours were consecrated by the
Rev. J. S. Pering, the garrison Chaplain ; they were
then handed by the Lieut.-Governor, Sir George Don,
to Mrs. Considine, who presented them to the regiment,
with a suitable address. The day was concluded by
a supper and ball, given by the officers of the regiment,
to which the officers in garrison, and the principal
inhabitants of the place, were invited. The soldiers
were treated with a dinner and a hogshead of wine
on the following day; and on the 14th, the Serjeants
were permitted to treat their friends to a supper and
a dance in one of the large store-rooms, which was
fitted up for the occasion.
The reserve companies remained in Ireland until
May of this year, when they embarked at Dublin,
for Liverpool.
In November, 1830, General Lord Hill, G.C.B.,
G.C.H., K.C., was removed to the Royal regiment of
Horse Guards, and was succeeded in the colonelcy
of the FIFTY-THIRD by Major- General Lord FitzRoy
James Henry Somerset, K.C.B.
1834 The service companies remained on duty at Gibral-
tar until March, 1834, when they proceeded to the
THE SHROPSHIRE REGIMENT OF FOOT. 27
island of Malta, where they remained during the year 1834
1835; in October the depot companies returned to 1835
Ireland.
In the summer of 1836 the service companies 1836
embarked at Malta for the Ionian Islands, and
landed at Corfu in July.
After remaining nearly four years in the Ionian 1840
Islands, the service companies embarked at Corfu
on the 28th of April, 1840, for England, and landed
on the 9th of June at Plymouth, where they were joined
by the depot companies from Ireland.
The regiment remained at Plymouth until July, 1841
1841, when it embarked for Scotland, and marching
to Edinburgh, was stationed in the castle of that city
during the year 1842.
In April, 1843, the regiment proceeded from Edin- 1843
burgh to Ireland, and was stationed at Belfast until
September, when it marched to Enniskillen.
The regiment marched from Enniskillen to Newry 1844
in January, 1844, and having been selected to proceed
to India, the usual augmentation was made to its num-
bers. It proceeded to Manchester in July, and em-
barked at Liverpool for Bengal on the 20th of August
under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Harry
Shakespear Phillips, arriving at Calcutta on the 30th
of December following.
On the 22nd of January, 1845, the regiment proceeded 1845
from Chinsurah to Cawnpore, where it arrived on the
19th of March ; in October it marched to Agra, and on
the 19th of December to Delhi, where it arrived and
encamped on the 28th of December, 1845.
During the brief period which elapsed between the 1846
llth and 23rd of December, 1845, the valley of the
Sutlej was the scene of active and interesting opera-
28 HISTORICAL RECORD OF THE FIFTY-THIRD, OR
1846tions; the frontier of the Punjaub* (punj, five, and aub,
waters) had been crossed by a numerous and well dis-
ciplined Sikh army ; and the enemy had been repulsed
in two sanguinary battles, at Moodkee on the 18th of
December, and at Ferozeshah three days afterwards.
After these successes, it was determined by the
Commander-in-Chief in India to rest the main body of
the army until strong reinforcements arrived, when a
grand attack was to be made on the Sikhs, who had
employed the interval in strengthening the position
they had taken up on the British side of the river
Sutlej, the boundary of the Punjaub from India.
Reinforcements accordingly proceeded to the fron-
tier, and the FIFTY-THIRD was one of the regiments
ordered to join the Army of the Sutlej. The regiment,
under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Harry
Shakespear Phillips, marched from Delhi on the 5th of
January, 1846, and arrived at Kurnaul on the 10th of
that month: two days afterwards the FIFTY-THIRD
marched to join the portion of the army detached under
the command of Major -General Sir Harry Smith, who
was proceeding to the relief of Loodianah (celebrated
for its manufacture of imitative Cashmere shawls),
which was threatened by a force of twenty thousand
Sikhs under the command of Runjoor Singh. The
junction was effected on the 21st of January, on which
day the regiment suffered severely from the heavy fire
of the enemy's artillery on the march to Loodianah,
sustaining a loss of thirty-six men killed. Major-
General Sir Harry Smith, by a series of skilful move-
ments, avoided a regular engagement, and effected his
* The five rivers, which intersect the Punjaub, from which circum-
stance the country derives its name, are the Indus, Chenaub, Jhelum,
Havee, and Sutlej.
THE SHROPSHIRE REGIMENT OF FOOT. 29
communication with Loodianah, but not without severe 1846
loss. On the 28th of January the Major- General
determined to attack the Sikhs under Runjoor Singh
in their strong position at Aliwal, and the result was a
splendid victory. Runjoor Singh's camp, with all his
baggage, ammunition, and stores, fell into the hands
of the victors, and the left wing of the Sikh army was
thus almost completely disorganised.
Her Majesty's FIFTY-THIRD, and the thirtieth native
infantry, formed the third brigade, under Brigadier
Wilson, and were opposed upon the left to the " Aieen "
troops, called Avitabiles* when the conflict was fiercely
raging. The enemy, driven back on his left and centre,
endeavoured to hold his right to cover the passage
of the river, and strongly occupied the village of
Bhoondree, which was carried by the FIFTY-THIRD at
the point of the bayonet : the regiment then moved
forward, in support of the thirtieth native infantry, by
the right of the village.
After expressing his thanks to Lieut. -Colonel
Phillips of the FIFTY-THIRD regiment, Major-General
Sir Harry Smith added in his official despatch : —
* Thus named after General Avitabile, one of the military in-
structors of the Sikhs. He was a native of Italy, and, at the con-
clusion of Napoleon's bright but evanescent career, sought employ-
ment in the East. Peshawur, at the period when he was elevated
governor, was in a state of anarchy, but by his vigorous administra-
tion was reduced to a state of comparative security. He was hand-
somely rewarded by the Sovereign of the Punjaub, Runjeet Singh,
for his exertions, along with another Italian officer, named Ventura,
and two Frenchmen, Allard and Court, for introducing European
tactics into the Sikh army. After completing his task, he returned
to Europe, for the purpose of ending his days on his native soil, but
at this period was still alive ; and is said to have congratulated
himself on the brave stand the Sikhs made, attributable in a great
degree to his instructions. The other European officers, Allard,
Court, and Ventura, are dead.
30 HISTORICAL RECORD OF THE FIFTY-THIRD, OR
1846 " I have only to report upon Her Majesty's FIFTY-
" THIRD, a young regiment, but veterans in daring
" gallantry and regularity; and Lieut. -Colonel Phil-
" lips's bravery and coolness attracted the attention of
" myself and every staff-officer I sent to him."
The casualties of the regiment were limited to three
men killed and eight wounded.
Although the Sikh army was much disheartened at
the sight of the numerous bodies which floated from
the battle-field to the bridge of boats at Sobraon, yet
in a few days they appeared as confident as ever of
being able to retain their entrenched position, and to
prevent the passage of the river.
On the 3rd of February the regiment marched
from Aliwal, and joined the head quarters of the
Army of the Sutlej on the 8th of that month.
The heavy ordnance having arrived, the Commander-
in-Chief resolved to storm the formidable entrench-
ments of the Sikhs at Sobraon, and finally expel them
from the territory they had invaded. This was an
undertaking of some magnitude. It was ascertained
that the entrenchments were defended by thirty
thousand of their bravest troops ; besides being united
by a good bridge to a reserve on the opposite bank of
the river, on which was stationed a considerable camp,
with artillery, which commanded and flanked their
field-works on the British side of the Sutlej.
On the 10th of February the FIFTY-THIRD formed
part of the attacking division, on the extreme left of
the army, under the command of Major-General Sir
Robert Dick. It had been intended that the cannon-
ade should have commenced at daybreak, but the
heavy mist, which hung over the field and river,
rendered it necessary to delay operations until the
THE SHROPSHIRE REGIMENT OF FOOT. 31
sun's rays had cleared the atmosphere. Meanwhile, 1846
on the margin of the Sutlej, two brigades of Major -
General Sir Robert Dick's division, under his personal
command, stood ready to commence the assault against
the extreme right of the Sikhs. His seventh brigade,
in which was the tenth foot, reinforced by the FIFTY-
THIRB regiment, and led by Brigadier Stacy, was to
head the attack, supported at two hundred yards
distance by the sixth brigade under Brigadier Wil-
kinson.
The part the FIFTY-THIRD sustained in the conflict
cannot be better expressed than in the words of the
despatch of the Commander-in-Chief, General Sir
Hugh Gough: —
" At nine o'clock, Brigadier Stacy's brigade, sup-
" ported on either flank by Captains Horseford's and
" Fordyce's batteries, and Lieut. -Colonel Lane's troop
" of horse artillery, moved to the attack in admirable
" order. The infantry and guns aided each other
" correlatively. The former marched steadily on in
" line, which they halted only to correct when necessary.
" The latter took up successive positions at the gallop,
' ' until at length they were within three hundred
" yards of the heavy batteries of the Sikhs ; but not-
" withstanding the regularity and coolness, and scien-
" tific character of this assault, which Brigadier Wil-
'' kinson well supported, so hot was the fire of cannon,
" musketry, and zumboorucks kept up by the Khalsa
" troops, that it seemed for some moments impossible
" that the entrenchments could be won under it ; but
" soon persevering gallantry triumphed, and the whole
" army had the satisfaction to see the gallant Bri-
" gadier Stacy's soldiers driving the Sikhs in confusion
'• before them within the area of their encampment.
32 HISTORICAL RECORD OF THE FIFTY-THIRD, OR
1846" The tenth foot, under Lieut. -Colonel Franks, now
" for the first time brought into serious contact with
" the enemy, greatly distinguished themselves. This
" regiment never fired a shot until it had got within
" the works of the enemy. The onset of Her Majesty's
" FIFTY- THIRD was as gallant and effective. The forty -
" third and fifty-ninth native infantry, brigaded with
" them, emulated both in cool determination."
Allusion was also made to the FIFTY-THIRD in the
General Order of the 14th of February, by the Right
Honorable the Governor -General of India, in which
it was stated : —
" Her Majesty's tenth, FIFTY-THIRD, and eightieth
" regiments, with the thirty-third, forty-third, fifty -
" ninth, and sixty-third native infantry, moving at a
" firm and steady pace, never fired a shot till they had
"passed the barriers opposed to them, a forbearance
" much to be commended, and most worthy of constant
" imitation, to which may be attributed the success of
" their effort, and the small loss they sustained."
The first success was gallantly seconded by the re-
mainder of the army, and by eleven o'clock, after a
severe hand-to-hand conflict, the Battle of Sobraon was
gained. A sudden rise of the Sutlej rendered the
river hardly fordable, and added to the loss of the Sikhs>
numbers of whom were drowned in attempting the
passage. Sixty-seven pieces of cannon, upwards of
two hundred camel-swivels (zumboorucks), numerous
standards, and vast munitions of war were the trophies
of the victory.
Captain Charles Edward Dawson Warren, and
eight rank and file of the FIFTY-THIRD regiment, were
killed. Lieutenant-Colonel William George Gold,
Captain Thomas Smart, Lieutenants John Chester,
THE SHROPSHIRE REGIMENT OF FOOT. 33
Anthony B. O. Stokes, Robert Nathaniel Clarke, and 1846
John Breton, Ensigns Henry Lucas and William
Dunning (Adjutant) were wounded. Captain Smart
and Lieutenant Clarke died in a few days of their
wounds. Lieutenant Dunning, who was promoted
after the battle, also died of his wound on the 6th of
April following. One serjeant and one hundred and
four rank and file were wounded.
Medals were struck for the victories of Aliwal and
Sobraon, and were presented by the Government of
India to the regiments present in those battles.
Her Majesty has been graciously pleased to authorize
the FIFTY-THIRD regiment to bear on its colours and
appointments the words "ALIWAL " and " SOBRAON," to
commemorate its gallantry in those victories,
The Battle of Sobraon concluded a campaign of
unexampled rapidity, and the youthful Sovereign of
Lahore, Maha Rajah Dhuleep Singh, was compelled to
wait upon the Right Honorable the Governor- Gene-
ral, Sir Henry Hardinge, and express contrition for
the offences of his army for the unjust and unprovoked
invasion of the British territories. The Maha Rajah
was afterwards conducted to his capital by the British
troops, who formally took possession of the citadel of
Lahore. In less than two months, four important vic-
tories had been gained on a line of country about sixty
miles in length, under most trying circumstances, over
a great and warlike people, possessed of military skill
of no common order, with all the appliances of war,
which will ever render the campaign one of the most
remarkable in the History of India, a campaign in
which the Governor- General, Sir Henry (now Viscount)
Hardinge, was present in the several actions, volun-
teering to act as second in command, that he might
D
34 HISTORICAL RECORD OF THE FIFTY-THIRD.
1846 aid the admirable strategy of the Commander-in-chief
General Sir Hugh (now Lord) Gough, by his presence
and military experience.
The regiment marched from Sobraon on the llth of
February, forming part of the advance guard of the
army proceeding to Lahore, where it arrived on the
13th of that month, and encamped outside its walls
until the 22nd of March, when the regiment received
orders to march for Umballa, which it commenced on
the following day, arriving there and entering the can-
tonments on the 8th of April, 1846.
On the 15th of October, 1846, the regiment pro-
ceeded to Ferozepore, and arrived there on the 28th of
that month.
1847 The regiment remained in cantonments at Feroze-
pore during the year 1847.
1848 On the 21st of February, 1848, the regiment returned
to Lahore, where it was stationed in December, 1848,
to which period this record of the services of the regi-
ment is brought.
1848.
JFIJFTY TjermuD REGIMENT .
HISTORICAL RECORD
OF THE SERVICES OF THE
SECOND BATTALION
THE FIFTY-THIRD,
THE SHROPSHIRE REGIMENT OF FOOT.
A short interval from war was ceded to Europe by 1803
the peace of Amiens, and during that period the First
Consul of France, Napoleon Bonaparte, was secretly
making hostile preparations for accomplishing his
ambitious purposes; he assumed the position of a
dictator to Europe, and when the British government
refused to submit to his domination, he assembled
an army for the invasion of England, that he might,
by one mighty effort, destroy the power of the
British people, who appeared as a barrier to his
schemes of aggrandizement. The spirit of the nation
was aroused by the menace of invasion ; patriotic en-
thusiasm pervaded all ranks; and the " Army of Re-
serve Act" having been passed for raising men for
home service by ballot, the FIFTY-THIRD regiment
marched into Yorkshire to receive part of the men
D2
36 HISTORICAL RECORD OF THE FIFTY-THIRD, OR
1803 raised in that extensive county. The numbers received
being considerable, a second battalion was added to
the establishment in October, 1803, and was formed at
Sunderland under the superintendence of Lieut.-
Colonel Scrogs; it speedily mustered one thousand
rank and file.
1804 A number of the men, raised under the provision of
the Army of Reserve Act, having voluntarily extended
their services, they were added to the first battalion
in February, 1804; the others, being only liable to
serve in the United Kingdom, remained in the second
battalion, which embarked from Whitehaven for Dublin,
where it arrived on the 3rd of March, under the orders
of Lieut.-Colonel Lightburn. In August it encamped
on the Curragh of Kildare, and in September returned
to Dublin.
1805 'JTie battalion was conspicuous for its good con-
duct while at Dublin; in July of this year it
marched to Galway, under the command of Lieut.-
Colonel Bingham. The Commander -in-Chief in Ireland,
Lieut. -General Lord Cathcart, proceeding with a body
of troops to Hanover, he was so highly esteemed by
the FIFTY-THIRD, that the men solicited their com-
manding officer to forward a memorial to head-quarters,
requesting permission to extend their services to the
Continent, and to accompany his Lordship. They were
thanked for their spirited offer ; but the circumstances
of the service did not require their presence on the
Continent at this period. During the winter the batta-
lion marched to Limerick.
1806 In March, 1806, the head-quarters were removed to
Rathkeale : in April two hundred men proceeded to join
the first battalion in India : they were followed by a
further number of three hundred in October : as this
THE SHROPSHIRE REGIMENT OF FOOT. 37
detachment was proceeding to the Isle of Wight, one 1806
transport was boarded by a French privateer ; the sol-
diers were without arms, otherwise they could have
overpowered their enemies : Captain Classen and sixty-
five men were taken to France, where the captain died.
During the winter of 1807 the limited-service men 1807
of the second battalion were transferred to a garrison
battalion, which greatly reduced its numbers ; the few
remaining men marched to Dublin in January, 1807,
embarked from thence for Liverpool, and afterward
proceeded to Shrewsbury.
The second battalion proceeded from Shrewsbury to 1808
Weymouth, where it arrived in October, and was joined
by a number of volunteers from the militia.
In the spring of 1808 the second battalion marched to
Bletchington ; in May was removed to Portsmouth,
where it embarked for;Ireland, and after landing at Cork,
it proceeded from thence to Limerick, and in the autumn
to Fermoy.
At this period the second battalion received orders 1809
to proceed from Ireland, to take part in the
deliverance of the Peninsula from the power of
Napoleon, Emperor of France, whose attempts to
subvert the liberties of Europe were strenuously
opposed by Great Britain. The battalion embarked
at Cork on the 12th of March, landed in Portugal,
at a small town opposite Lisbon, on the 6th of April ;
and proceeded up the river Tagus in boats a few days
afterwards to Villa Franca, from whence it marched to
Rio Mayor. The seventh Koyal fusiliers, and the
FIFTY-THIRD, were formed in brigade under Brigadier-
General A. Campbell ; and the officers and soldiers were
highly gratified by the arrival of Lieut.-General Sir
Arthur Wellesley to assume the command of the army.
38 HISTORICAL RECORD OF THE FIFTY-THIRD, Oil
1809 The FIFTY-THIRD had the honor of taking part in
the operations by which the French army under
Marshal Soult was driven from Oporto: they were
not engaged in forcing the passage of the Douro on
the 12th of May; they had completed a short march
and were going into billets at Cavalhos, when the order
to advance arrived, and the soldiers evinced their
ardour by cheerfully performing a long march at double
quick time, and they were speedily across the river ;
but the action had ceased, and they went into quarters
in the city of Oporto, after a march of twenty-eight miles.
After taking part in the pursuit of the French
army through mountainous districts to the confines of
Portugal, the FIFTY-THIRD retired to Oporto, where
they halted one day; they afterwards proceeded to
Coimbra, and in the early part of June to Abrantes.
Advancing into Spain, the FIFTY-THIRD shared in
the operations which preceded the battle of Talavera,
and suffered, in common with other corps, great priva-
tion from the want of supplies, the soldiers having no
food, on many occasions, excepting corn gathered from
the fields. In the action on the 28th of July, two
companies of the FIFTY-THIRD particularly distinguished
themselves : the other companies of the battalion
were in reserve in the first instance ; but they were
brought forward, and assailing one of the enemy's
columns of attack in flank, they greatly contributed
to its discomfiture and overthrow, when thirteen pieces
of artillery were captured. Sir Arthur Wellesley saw,
from a hill at a short distance, the fighting at this part
of the field, and sent twice to testify his approbation of
the conduct of the brigade. The French were repulsed
at all points ; and the word " TALAVERA," on the
colours of the FIFTY-THIKD regiment, commemorates
THE SHROPSHIRE REGIMENT OF FOOT. 39
the gallantry of the second battalion on this occasion : 1809
its loss was six soldiers killed ; Major Kingscote, Cap-
tain Stawell, and twenty-nine rank and file wounded.
The following officers were at the battle of Talavera,
on the 27th and 28th of July, 1809 :—
Lieut. -Colonel G. E. Bingham. Majors W. Thursby
and N. Kingscote. Captains H. Parker, John Ro-
binson, O. G. Fehrszen, and J. L. Stawell. Lieu-
tenants J. B. Glew, Charles Ribs, F. H. Fuller, D.
Beatty, P. Hovenden, and C. Williams. Ensigns
Edward Barlow, George Langton, G. C. Goff, Joseph
Nicholson, J. Christie, J. J. C. Harrison, H. Brown, and
J. Devenish. Adjutant John Carss. Surgeon J. Sandall.
Assistant- Surgeon J. Dunn. Quarter- Master — Blackie.
The immense superiority of numbers which the
French were enabled to bring forward at this period,
prevented those decisive results following the victory
at Talavera which might have been anticipated : the
army withdrew behind the Tagus, and subsequently
occupied a position on the Guadiana river, where many
soldiers, whose strength had been exhausted by long
marchesunder ahotsun and ascanty supply of provisions,
died. In the autumn the battalion went into quarters
at Olivenqa, and in December commenced its march
across the country to Guarda in Portugal, where it
arrived on the llth of January, 1810.
In the beginning of March, 1810, the second battalion 1810
was removed from Guarda to several pleasant villages
in the valley of the Mondego, where the health of the
men quickly improved. A numerous French army,
under Marshal Massena, advanced and besieged Ciudad
Rodrigo ; and on the 1st of July the FIFTY-THIRD pro-
ceeded to the Coa river, to support the light division,
observe the bridge of Castel Bom, and the ford of Juan
40 HISTORICAL RECORD OF THE FIFTY-THIRD, OR
1810 Miguel. The enemy, having captured Ciudad Rodrigo,
advanced in great force to invade Portugal ; Lord
Wellington, not having an army sufficiently numerous
to oppose the French in the field, retired : the
FIFTY- THIRD fell back from the Coa upon Guarda,
and afterwards withdrew gradually before the enemy,
until it arrived at the rugged rocks of Busaco,
where the French legions found their advance im-
peded by a formidable line of British bayonets.
The FIFTY-THIRD were detached a short distance to the
left, to observe a small mountain road which came
round that flank of the position, and during the action
on the 27th of September their post was not attacked.
The French, being unable to force the position, turned
it by a flank movement ; and the British retreated to
the fortified lines of Torres Vedras, where they op-
posed a front of battle which the French did not
venture to attack ; but, after reconnoitring the lines
fell back to Santarem, where they remained during the
winter.
1811 In Portugal the opposing armies confronted each
other until the 5th of March, when the French, having
lost many men, and being unable to procure provisions,
made a sudden retreat towards the frontiers of Portugal.
The FIFTY -THIRD followed the retreating enemy —
several skirmishes occurred ; and towards the end of
March the battalion went into quarters at the hamlet
of Romilioza, in the valley of the Mondego.
Again advancing on the 2nd of April, the battalion
approached the river Coa on the following day, when
the French were driven from the vicinity of Sabugal.
Four days afterwards it proceeded to Castcl Bom;
and on the 9th of April covered a reconnoissance, made
by Colonel Fletcher of the Royal Engineers, on the
THE SHROPSHIRE REGIMENT OF FOOT. 41
fortress of Almeida, which was invested two days after- 1811
wards, when the FIFTY-THIRD took post on the east
side of the town. They afterwards moved to San
Pedro, and furnished piquets before the fortress.
When Marshal Massena advanced to raise the block-
ade of Almeida, the FIFTY -THIRD quitted San Pedro
and took their station in the position near Fuentes d' Onor.
The attacks of the enemy on the 3rd of May were re-
pulsed ; on the 5th they were renewed, and the FIFTY-
THIRD advanced to support the piquets, which were
engaged among some stone fences to the left of the
village. As it advanced, the battalion was exposed to
the fire of a French battery, but did not sustain any
loss : it took post at the foot of a hill, and supported
the piquets until the action ceased : the French being
repulsed, they afterwards retreated.
The FIFTY-THIRD resumed their post before Almeida ;
but the French garrison contrived to destroy the works
and guns of the fortress, and to effect its escape during
the night of the llth of May.
When the siege of Badajoz occasioned the advance
of Marshal Marmont with the French army to Spanish
Estremadura, the FIFTY-THIRD, and other corps left
on the Agueda, made a corresponding movement, and
joined the army under Lord Wellington in the Alem-
tejo. The French armies separating again, the FIFTY-
THIRD returned, with the sixth division, of which they
formed part, to the northern frontiers of Portugal. On
the llth of September the battalion crossed the Agueda
river to the small village of Felicio Chico, to protect
the inhabitants from the depredations of the garrison
of Ciudad Rodrigo. A numerous French army ad-
vancing to throw a supply into that fortress, the FIFTY-
THIRD withdrew across the river, and proceeded to
42 HISTORICAL RECORD OF THE FIFTY-THIRD, OR
1811 Fuentes d'Onor; from whence they moved to the
vicinity of Espejo. The French forces advancing, the
allies, being much inferior in numbers, withdrew a few
stages ; the enemy soon retired again, and the FIFTY-
THIRD went into village cantonments.
Major-General Campbell, being appointed to the
staff of the army in India, took leave of the sixth
division, in an order dated the 5th of November, and
after expressing his thanks to the general officers com-
manding brigades, and officers commanding regiments,
he adverted " to his feelings of regret at being about
" to separate from that brigade which it was so long
" his pride to command, and especially from the FIFTY -
" THIRD regiment, the only remaining corps of his
" original brigade, whose undaunted steadiness and
" gallantry, under the command of Lieut.-Colbnel
" Bingham, gained them the admiration of the army
" the first time they were under fire."
1812 In January, 1812, when Lord Wellington besieged
and captured Ciudad Rodrigo, the sixth division was at
Penna Verde ; but it advanced to the frontiers on the
approach of the French army : when the enemy with-
drew, the FIFTY-THIRD fell back to Grajal. They
subsequently traversed the country to Elvas, and
formed part of the covering army during the siege of
Badajoz, which fortress was captured by storm on the
6th of April. After taking an active part in the
operations of the covering army, the FIFTY-THIRD
again marched northward, and halted at Castel de
Vide on the 2nd of May.
The services of the second battalion in Portugal and
Spain, had been equally meritorious with those of the
first battalion in India. After returning from Spanish
Estremadura, it reposed a short period in quarters :
THE SHROPSHIRE REGIMENT OF FOOT. 43
in May it moved forward to support the troops under 1812
Lieut. -General Hill in their attack on the French
bridge at Almaraz, and afterwards returned to Castel
de Vide.
In June the army passed the Agueda river and
advanced to Salamanca, the French retiring upon
7'oro, but leaving a body of troops in two fortified
convents. The FIFTY-THIRD were employed in the siege
of these convents, and on the 18th of June Lieutenant
J. H. Devenish was severely wounded in the trenches;
he died on the 24th, and was buried in the church near
the great square of the city. Marshal Marmont ad-
vancing to relieve the besieged convents, the regiment
was twice removed from the siege to confront the
French army ; but the enemy did not hazard an
attack. On the 23rd of June, when an unsuccessful
attempt was made by the light infantry to capture the
smaller convent by escalade, the regiment had three
men killed ; Lieutenant James Hamilton, and seven
men, wounded. The progress of the siege was delayed
by a scarcity of ammunition, but a supply was received.
The smaller convent was captured by storm on the
27th of June ; and the attack on the larger one had
commenced, when the commandant surrendered.
Advancing from Salamanca the army proceeded to
the banks of the Douro ; but the French having been
considerably reinforced, and having crossed that river,
the allies fell back to the vicinity of Salamanca, where
the two armies manoeuvred on the 22nd of July, and
the enemy, having weakened his centre in his attempt
to turn the right flank of the allied army, Lord Wel-
lington seized the favourable opportunity to commence
the battle. The FIFTY-THIRD, with the other corps of
the sixth division, supported the fourth division in
44 HISTORICAL RECORD OF THE FIFTY-THIRD, OR
181 2 its attack on the French army, and circumstances
occurred which occasioned the regiment to be brought
into action before the other corps of its division. The
FIFTY-THIRD supported the twenty-third Portuguese
regiment; and this corps giving way, the FIFTY-THIRD
had to sustain the attack of a superior body of infantry
supported by cavalry in front, at the same time they
were exposed to the flank fire of the French posted on
one of the hills called the Arapiles. The regiment
withdrew from this unequal contest in good order, and
forming square, resisted the charge of the French
cavalry with great steadiness, thus affording an ex-
ample of what can be effected by a small body of
infantry, when charged by very superior numbers of
cavalry. The officer at the head of the French dra-
goons having been wounded close to the bayonets of
the square, and the success of the attack of the other
regiments of the brigade to which the FIFTY-THIRD
belonged becoming evident, the French cavalry retired,
taking with them Captain Fehrszen and nine wounded
men as prisoners. Lieut. -Colonel Bingham having
been severely wounded, the command of the regiment
devolved on Brevet Lieut. -Colonel John Hansel.
After resisting the charge of the French cavalry, the
FIFTY-THIRD again advanced, and were engaged in the
attack of the last position occupied by the enemy on
that memorable day. This was a desperate musketry
action in the dark, and the difficulties of the ascent of
the mountain gave the French division, under General
Maucune, formed on the summit, a decided advantage.
The FIFTY-THIRD were on the left of the sixth division
on this occasion, and the British gallantly won their
way upwards, and finally forced the enemy to make a
precipitate retreat.
THE SHROPSHIRE REGIMENT OF FOOT. 45
Colonel Napier has given the following spirited 1812
description of this last attack, in his History of the
Peninsular War : — " Assisted by a brigade of the fourth
" division, the troops then rushed up, and in the dark-
" ness of the night the fire showed from afar how the
" battle went. On the side of the British a sheet of
" flame was seen, sometimes advancing with an even
" front, sometimes pricking forth in spear heads, now
" falling back in waving lines, and anon darting up-
" wards in one vast pyramid, the apex of which often
" approached, yet never gained, the actual summit of
" the mountain ; but the French musketry, rapid as
" lightning, sparkled along the brow of the height with
" unvarying fulness, and with what desperate effects,
" the dark gaps and changing shapes of the adverse
" fire showed too plainly. Yet, when Pakenham had
" again turned the enemy's left, and Foy's division
" had glided into the forest, Maucune's task was com-
*' pleted, the effulgent crest of the ridge became black
" and silent, and the French army vanished, as it were,
" into darkness."
The French army was overpowered and driven from
the field with severe loss : and the Royal authority
was afterwards given for the FIFTY-THIRD regiment to
bear the word " SALAMANCA " on its colours, to com-
memorate the distinguished conduct of the second
battalion on this memorable occasion: Lieut. -Colonel
Bingham and Lieut.-Colonel Mansel received gold
medals.
Nineteen men were killed. Captain A. K. Blackball
died of his wounds, much regretted; Lieut.-Colonel
Bingham, Brevet Lieut. -Colonel Robertson, Captains
O. G. Fehrszen, J. W. Poppleton, D. M'Dougall, and
John Fernandez, Lieutenants J. B. Hunter, and Joseph
46 HISTORICAL RECORD OF THE FIFTY-THIRD, OR
1812 Nicholson, Ensign Peter Bunworth, Adjutant John
Carss, Volunteer Munro Morphet, and seventy-six men
were wounded ; nine men wounded and prisoners. Cap-
tain Fehrszen was taken prisoner, but was left by the
enemy at Alba de Tormes. The total loss amounted
to nearly half the soldiers under arms on this occasion.
The following officers were in the field, and escaped
uninjured:— Lieut. -Colonel John Mansel. Lieutenants
P. Hovenden, and John Fraser. Ensigns W. Harrison,
W. Baxter, George Fitzgerald, Robert Milliard, J. W.
Moir, and Michael Nagle. Surgeon T. Sandell ; Assist-
ant-Surgeon Charles MacLean.
On the day after the battle, Major-General Hulse
was nominated to command the fifth division, when
the command of the brigade devolved on Lieut.-Colonel
Mansel of the FIFTY-THIRD, and that of the second
battalion of the regiment on Lieutenant Hovenden.
In August Lieut.-Colonel Bingham was sufficiently
recovered of his wounds to resume his duty, when
he took the command of the brigade, and Lieut.-Colonel
Mansel that of the second battalion of the regiment.
Advancing in pursuit of the enemy, the army
entered the city of Valladolid amidst the rejoicings of
the people. The FIFTY-THIRD were afterwards left,
with the sixth division, at the small town of Cuellar,
in the province of Segovia, while Lord Wellington
advanced with the army to Madrid. General Clauzel
returning with the re- organized French army, the
sixth division withdrew to Arevalo. Lord Wellington
returning from Madrid, the French again retreated,
and the allied army advanced up the beautiful
Pisuerga and Arlanzan valleys, turning the enemy's
positions and forcing him to continue his retreat beyond
Burgos. The FIFTY-THIRD were employed in the
THE SHROPSHIRE REGIMENT OF FOOT. 47
siege of the castle of Burgos, in which service they had 1812
four men killed, Ensign Nagle, one Serjeant, and
several men wounded. Lieutenant Fraser dis-
tinguished himself at the attack of one of the out-
works. The concentration of the enemy's numerous
forces having rendered a retrograde movement neces-
sary, the FIFTY-THIRD shared in the fatigues, priva-
tions, and sufferings of the retreat from Burgos to the
frontiers of Portugal, where they went into winter-
quarters ; they were removed from the sixth to the
fourth division, and formed in brigade with the third
battalion of the twenty-seventh, and the first battalions
of the fortieth and forly-eighth regiments, under
Major-General William Ansoii.
The second battalion having become considerably
reduced in numbers by its arduous services in Spain
and Portugal, the effective and efficient soldiers were
formed into four companies, for service in the
Peninsula ; and the officers of the other six companies,
with the remaining non-commissioned officers and
soldiers, were ordered to proceed to England, under
the command of Captain Poppleton. The four
service companies marched to join the head-quarters of
the fourth division, at St. Jao de Pesquira, where
they arrived on the 6th of January, and were formed
with four companies of the second, or the Queen's 1813
Royal, into the second provisional battalion, which was
commanded by Lieut.-Colonel Bingham of the FIFTY-
THIRD regiment.
Taking the field under a superior organization
strengthened by reinforcements, and proudly confident
in the skill and resources of its commander, the allied
army penetrated Spain in May, to turn the French
48 HISTORICAL RECORD OF THE FIFTY-THIRD, OR
1813 positions on the Douro. The FIFTY-THIRD formed
part of the force under Lieut.-General Sir Thomas
Graham (afterwards Lord Lynedoch), which proceeded
through the mountainous regions of the Tras-os-Montes,
and passed the Esla river, the French falling back on
Toro. Pressing forward upon their numerous enemies,
the British forced them to quit one position after another,
until the legions of France were concentrated in the
plain of Vittoria, under Joseph Bonaparte, titular King
of Spain, where they prepared to oppose the victorious
career of the allied army. In the battle of the 21st
of June the FIFTY -THIRD formed part of the centre
column, under the immediate command of Lord Wel-
lington, and their bearing throughout the day, which
ended in the complete overthrow and discomfiture of
the French army, was afterwards rewarded with the
Royal authority to bear the word " VITTORIA " on the
colours of the regiment. Their loss was four men
killed and six wounded.
The following officers served at the battle of Vit-
toria,— viz. :
Colonel G. R. Bingham. Captains O. G. Fehrszen
and James Mackay. Lieutenants C. F. Hunter, Thomas
Impett, James Hamilton, Thomas Dowker, and John
Fraser. Ensigns George Fitzgerald, Michael Nagle,
and John Wilton. Adjutant John Carss. Surgeon
Thomas Sandell ; Assistant -Surgeon Charles MacLean.
Volunteer John Fernandez.
From the field of battle the FIFTY-THIRD followed
the rear of the defeated French army to the vicinity of
Pampeluna, and were afterwards employed in the
attempt to intercept General Clauzcl's French
division, which had not been at the battle of Vittoria :
THE SHROPSHIRE REGIMENT OF FOOT. 49
this body of troops having escaped by the pass 181 3
of Jaca, the FIFTY-THIRD were employed in the blockade
of Pampeluna ; but were relieved by the Spaniards
in the middle of July, and advanced into the Pyre-
nean mountains, where they were stationed in support
of the troops occupying the head of the pass of Ron-
cesvalles.
When the French army under Marshal Soult ad-
vanced to resume offensive operations, the allied army
retired to a position in the Pyrenees in front of Pam-
peluna, where some severe fighting took place, and
the repeated attacks of the French were repulsed.
Speaking of the action on the 28th of July, Lord
Wellington stated — " In the course of this contest, the
" fourth division, which has so frequently been distin-
" guished in this army, surpassed its former good
" conduct." On the 30th of July the FIFTY-THIRD
regiment had an opportunity of distinguishing itself,
during the severely contested action in the mountains ;
and the light infantry, commandedby Captain FEHRSZEN,
of the FIFTY-THIRD, signalized themselves in aparticular
manner. The meritorious conduct of Captain FEHRSZEN
was rewarded with the rank of major. The French
were driven from their pest, and pursued to their own
frontiers : and the word " PYRENEES " on the colours
of the regiment commemorates the heroic conduct of
the officers and soldiers of the second battalion on this
occasion. Their loss was three men killed and twenty-
one wounded.
The following officers served at the battle of the
Pyrenees : —
Lieut. -Colonel G. R. BINGHAM. Captains O. G.
Fehrszen and James Mackay. Lieutenants C. F. Hunter,
Thomas Impett, James Hamilton, and Thos. Dowker.
E
50 HISTORICAL' RECORD OF THE FIFTY-THIRD, OK
1813 Ensigns George Fitzgerald, Michael Nagle, and John
Wilton. Pay-Master J. MacLean. Adjutant John
Carss. Quarter- Master R. Blackie. Surgeon T. Sandall.
Assistant- Surgeon C. MacLean.
Pursuing the French army through the mountains,
the FIFTY-THIRD captured some prisoners and baggage,
and arrived at Puerto de Echalar on the 2nd of August,
when Major- General Barnes's brigade was engaged
with two French divisions, which it drove from the
heights. Five days afterwards the FIFTY-THIRD were
removed to the vicinity of Lezaca, where the head-
quarters of the allied army were established ; from this
place a few volunteers of the FIFTY-THIRD proceeded
to St. Sebastian, and were engaged in storming that
fortress on the 31st of August, when two men of the
regiment were killed and two wounded. On the same
day the French crossed the Bidassoa in considerable
force, and attacked the Spanish troops on the heights
of San Marcial. On this occasion the FIFTY-THIRD were
engaged in extended order in the pass of St. Antonio,
where they had one man killed and twenty wounded.
The French were repulsed, and giving up all hope of
being able to relieve St. Sebastian, they re-crossed the
river.
At the passage of the Bidassoa on the 7th of October,
the FIFTY-THIRD supported the light division ; and
during the action on the following day they were in
reserve.
Looking down from the lofty Pyrenees on the well
guarded territory of France, the British Commander
prepared to carry the war into the heart of that king-
dom, and on the morning of the 10th of November his
conquering divisions traversed the mountain passes by
moonlight, to attack the enemy's fortified position on
THE SHROPSHIRE REGIMENT OF FOOT. 51
the Nivelle. The FIFTY-THIRD carried bags filled with 1813
fern, to fill up the ditch, and small ladders to mount the
rampart of a redoubt, which they were directed to take.
Advancing under the cover of a heavy cannonade, the
soldiers raised a loud and confident shout, as they
approached the redoubt, when the French fired a few
shots and fled. The redoubt was taken possession of,
and about thirty of the enemy, who had not time to
escape, were made prisoners. The British were suc-
cessful at every point, and the French made a retreat.
During the action Major FEHRSZEN had an opportunity
of making a sudden dash with a few men, and he suc-
ceeded in capturing a field gun. For their gallant
services on this occasion the FIFTY-THIRD were re-
warded with the Royal authority to bear the word
" NIVELLE " on their colours, in addition to the other
inscriptions previously acquired.
One serjeant and three private soldiers were killed ;
Major Fehrszen, Captain Mackay, Lieutenant Hamil-
ton, and a few private soldiers wounded.
Names of officers who served at the battle of Ni-
velle : —
Lieut. -Colonel G. R. Bingham. Major O. G. Fehrszen;
Captains James Mackay and John Carss. Lieutenants
C. F. Hunter, Tho. Impett, Tho. Dowker, James
Hamilton, and John Fraser. FMsigns George Fitz-
Gerald and M. Nagle. Adjutant John Wilton. Assist-
ant-Surgeons James Dunn and Charles MacLean.
At the passage of the Nive river, on the 9th of
December, and in the actions which followed, the
FIFTY-THIRD were in reserve, and did not sustain any
loss : they subsequently went into cantonments during
the severe weather which followed.
Some movements were made by the FIFTY-THIRD in
E 2
52 HISTORICAL RECORD OF THE FIFTY-THIRD, OR
1813 the early part of January, 1814; and on the 6th of
that month they advanced to attack a body of French
troops ; but were prevented engaging by a brook, the
stream of which was so swollen by the rains as to be
impassable, The battalion was afterwards stationed at
Ustaritz, where it remained until the middle of Febru-
ary, when active operations were commenced against
the French army. After taking part in several move-
ments, the FIFTY-THIRD marched to St. Jean de Luz,
where they arrived on the 22nd of February, and were
supplied with new clothing at that place.
On the 25th of February the FIFTY-THIRD com-
menced their march to re-join the army ; but were not
in time to take part in the battle of Orthes on the
27th of that month. They passed the Adour at St.
Sever on the 3rd of March, and joined the fourth
division at Grenade, where they remained a week, and
afterwards marched in the direction of Bordeaux,
which city was taken possession of by the troops under
Marshal Beresford ; the population renounced their
allegiance to the Emperor Napoleon, and declared
themselves in favour of the Bourbon dynasty.
In the meantime the six companies which returned
to England in January, 1813, had been so successful in
recruiting, and in obtaining volunteers from the militia,
that they were reported fit for service, and embarked
1814 at Portsmouth on the 1st of March, 1814, to join the
allied army : they landed at Passages in Spain under
the orders of Licut.-Coloncl Manscl, and advancing
through the mountains into France, continued their
march to Tarbcs, where they arrived on the 30th of
March, and were halted for the purpose of carrying on
operations against the castle of L'Ourde, which re-
mained in the possession of the enemy. Lieut.-Colonel
THE SHROPSHIRE REGIMENT OF FOOT. 53
Mansel joined the army and took the command of the 1514
second provisional battalion, Lieut. -Colonel Bijigham
having returned to England on leave of absence about
two months previously.
The four companies of the FIFTY-THIRD, forming
part of the second provisional battalion, had been with-
drawn from the road to Bordeaux, and proceeded to
the vicinity of Toulouse, where Marshal Soult had as-
sembled the French army to arrest the progress of
the allies, who did not receive the news of the abdica-
tion of Napoleon until the 12th of April. Marshal
Soult's position was attacked on the 10th of April,
on which occasion the four companies formed part
of the force which turned the enemy's right, and
carried the heights on that flank. On ascending the
heights, the second provisional battalion encoun-
tered a French brigade, in column, which was soon
routed. The enemy was driven from his positions;
and the word " TOULOUSE " on the colours of the regi-
ment commemorates the gallant bearing of the officers
and soldiers of the FIFTY-THIRD on this occasion. The
four companies had a few men killed and wounded ;
Lieutenant Hamilton died of his wounds, much re-
gretted, being an officer of great promise. Captains
Mackay and Mansel, and Lieutenant Impett, were
wounded, and recovered.
Names of officers who served at the battle of Tou-
louse. Lieut. -Colonel J. Mansel. Major O. G. Fehrs-
zen. Captains J. Giles (Major), James Mackay, and
R. C. Mansel. Lieutenants C. F. Hunter, J. Hamilton,
Thomas Impett, J. Fraser, and G. Fitzgerald. Adjutant
J. Wilton. Assistant- Surgeons J. Dunn and C. MacLean.
Marshal Soult having retired from Toulouse, the
allied army advanced a short distance beyond the
54 HISTORICAL RECORD OF THE FIFTY-THIRD, OR
1814 town ; and the six companies of the FIFTY-THIRD, from
England, arrived and joined the fourth division.
Hostilities were soon afterwards terminated ; the
island of Elba was ceded to Napoleon Bonaparte in full
sovereignty, with the imperial title for life; the Bourbon
family was restored to the throne of France ; and the
victorious soldiers of the allied army were thus rewarded
with a complete triumph over the enemies of their
country. The Royal authority was afterwards given for
the word "PENINSULA" to be added to the honorary
inscriptions on the colours of the FIFTY-THIRD, to com-
memorate their meritorious services in Portugal, Spain,
and the south of France, where they had fought and
conquered for the welfare of Europe.
After reposing a few weeks in convenient quarters,
the FIFTY-THIRD marched to the vicinity of Bordeaux,
where they were encamped a short period, and re-
ceived the thanks of Lieut.- General Sir Lowry Cole,
commanding the fourth division, in orders ; — Colonel
Bingham and Lieut. -Colonel Mansel being particularly
mentioned. They were also reviewed by the Marquis
of Wellington, whose congratulations and expressions
of approbation were communicated to the army in
general orders, and they afterwards embarked for
Ireland. They landed at Monkstown on the 7th of
July, and marched to Kinsale, but re-embarked on the
23rd of that month, for England, and landing at Ports-
mouth, proceeded from thence to Hilsea barracks, where
Colonel Bingham" joined and assumed the command.
During this period NAPOLEON BONAPARTE had re-
turned to France, his army had been overthrown at
WATERLOO, and he had surrendered himself to Captain
Maitland, commanding the Bellerophon ship of war :
THE SHROPSHIRE REGIMENT OF FOOT. 55
the island of St. Helena was afterwards appointed 1815
for his future residence. The second battalion of
the FIFTY-THIRD regiment, having been very successful
in recruiting, was selected to accompany Bonaparte
to the island named as the place of exile for this ex-
traordinary man. The battalion .embarked from Ports-
mouth on the 1st of August, under the command of
Major Fehrszen; Colonel Sir George Bingham* com-
manding the troops employed in this service. It arrived
at St. Helena in October, and after occupy' ' ^the
barracks at James Town a few days, proceeded 10 the
interior of the island, where new barracks were con-
structed, and it furnished the requisite guards, piquets,
and sentries for the cordon of General Bonaparte.
At this period the Serjeants of the battalion, who
had distinguished themselves in the Peninsula, were
presented with medals to be worn on their left breasts.
The medals were issued by Colonel Sir George Bing-
ham, in compliance with directions from the colonel of
the regiment, Lieut.-General Sir John Abercromby,
G.C.B., and were delivered to the following ser-
jeants: —
NAMES. BATTLES AT WHICH THEY HAD SERVED.
John Wilton . . Talavera and Salamanca.
James Mellor . . Talavera, Salamanca, Vittoria, Pyrenees,
Nivelle, and Toulouse.
Josh. Rushton . . Talavera, Salamanca, Vittoria, Pyrenees,
Nivelle, and Toulouse.
Jno. Robinson. . Talavera, Vittoria, and Pyrenees.
Geo. Bannister. . Salamanca, Vittoria, Pyrenees, Nivelle, and
Toulouse.
Wm. Hartley . . Salamanca, Vittoria, Pyrenees, Nivelle, and
Toulouse.
* See Memoir of the services of Major-General Sir George R.
Bingham, K.C.B., Appendix, page 69,
56 HISTORICAL RECORD OF THE FIFTY -THIRD, OR
1815 NAMES. BATTLES AT WHICH THEY HAD SERVED.
Wm. West. . . Salamanca, Vittoria, Pyrenees, Nivelle, and
Toulouse.
Thos. Cox . . . Salamanca.
Abm. Peel . . . Talavera and Salamanca.
Saml. Sutcliffe . . Talavera, Salamanca, Vittoria, Pyrenees,
Nivelle, and Toulouse.
Jas, Whitehead . Talavera, Salamanca, Vittoria, Pyrenees,
Nivelle, and Toulouse.
John Whitely . . Talavera, Salamanca, and Toulouse.
Wm. Brooksbank . Salamanca.
Hen. Cockroft . . Talavera and Salamanca.
John Smith . . . Salamanca.
Serjeant Wilton was promoted to the adjutancy of the battalion ;
Serjeant Mellor to serjeant-major ; and Serjeant Rushton to quarter-
master serjeant.
1816 During this year the second battalion remained on
duty at St. Helena, where it received the thanks of
the Governor, Lieut-General Sir Hudson Lowe : in
May Lieut.-Colonel Mansel arrived and assumed the
command.
1817 The second battalion of the FIFTY-THIRD remained
on duty at St. Helena until July of this year, when the
continued peace of Europe occasioning a considerable
reduction in the army, it was ordered to return to Eng-
land to be disbanded. It transferred thirteen Serjeants,
one drummer, and two hundred and eighty-eight rank
and file to the first battalion in India ; and embarking
from St. Helena in. the middle of July, received, pre-
vious to going on board of the ship " Baring," the
expression, in general orders, of the Governor's appro-
bation and admiration of its conduct while at St.
Helena. Previous to the officers of the FIFTY -THIRD
quitting the island, Napoleon Bonaparte expressed a
wish for them to wait on him, and the Governor having
consented, they attended at the residence of Napoleon.
He expressed his thankfulness for the manner in
THE SHROPSHIRE REGIMENT OF FOOT. 57
which the corps had performed the duties on which it 1817
had been employed, and for the attention and respect
he had always experienced from every individual
belonging to it ; and also expressed his wishes for the
prosperity and happiness of every member of the
corps.*
On the 14th of September the second battalion
arrived at Portsmouth, from whence it proceeded to
join the depot at Canterbury, where it was disbanded
on the 20th of October.
* LORD BATHUBST, then Secretary of State for the Colonial
Department, stated in the House of Peers, that he had heard that
General BONAPARTE had spoken in terms of high approbation of
the FIFTY-THIRD regiment at St. Helena, and added, " Whatsoever
" the General could say in praise of that corps was not adequate
" to its merits."
1817.
CONCLUSION.
The foregoing pages contain detailed accounts of the
meritorious conduct of the first and second battalions of
the Fifty-third regiment in Europe, as well as in Asia,
and afford abundant proofs of the value of the services
of the regiment, which, on numerous occasions, has
received the thanks of the General Officers under
whom it has served, and the approbation of the
Sovereign, as testified by the marks of distinction
inscribed on the Regimental Colour.
1849.
THIS MEMORIAL WAS ERECTED 8V
THE OFFICERS OF HER MAJESTY'S 53" OR SHROPSHIRE REGIMENT
WHO 5ERVE& IN THOE. ACTIONS,
IN TESTIMONY OF DEEP REGRET FOR •
THEIR LOST FRIENDS, THEIR BROTHER OFFICERS, AND
THE GALLANT SOLDIERS OF THE CORPS.
( 59
SUCCESSION OF COLONELS
OP THE
FIFTY-THIRD,
OR,
THE SHROPSHIRE REGIMENT OF FOOT.
WILLIAM WHITMORE,
Appointed 21st December, 1755.
WILLIAM WHITMORE served many years in the third foot
guards ; he was promoted to the rank of colonel in January,
1751 ; and in November, 1752, he was appointed major in his
regiment. In the winter of 1755-6 he raised, formed, and
disciplined a regiment of foot, now the FIFTY-THIRD, of which
he was appointed colonel by commission dated the 21st of
December, 1755. He was promoted to the rank of major-
general in January, 1758, and removed to the ninth regiment
of foot in October following. In December, 1760, he was
advanced to the rank of lieut.-general. His decease occurred
in 1771 ; at which period he was member of parliament for
Portsmouth.
JOHN TOOVEY,
Appointed 5th April, 1759.
JOHN TOOVEY was a cavalry officer of reputation in the reign
of King George II., and served some years in the thirteenth
dragoons. In December, 1754, he was nominated to the lieut.-
colonelcy of the first royal dragoons ; and in April, 1759, his
constant attention to all the duties of commanding officer was
60 FIFTY-THIRD REGIMENT OF FOOT.
rewarded with the colonelcy' of the FIFTY-THIRD regiment.
In August, 1761, he was promoted to the rank of major-general.
He died in 1770.
ROBERT DALRYMPLE HORNE ELPHINSTONE,
Appointed 5th February, 1770.
THIS Officer held a commission in the first, the royal regiment
of foot, many years, and was promoted to the lieul. -colonelcy
of the first battalion of that corps on the 20th of June, 1753.
On the 3rd of August, 1762, King George III. nominated him
to the colonelcy of the 120th regiment, which was raised in
the beginning of that year, and disbanded in 1764. In
February, 1770, he was appointed Colonel of the FIFTY- THIRD
regiment ; and was promoted to the rank of major-general
two months afterwards. In 1777 he was advanced to the rank
of lieut.-general ; and in 1793 to that of general. He died
in 1794.
GERARD LAKE,
Afterwards Viscount Lake,
Appointed 3rd April, 1794.
GERARD LAKE, third son of Lancelot Charles Lake, Esq.,
choosing the profession of arms, was nominated to the commission
of ensign and lieutenant in the first foot guards, on the 9th of
May, 1758; in 1762 he was promoted to lieutenant and
captain, and in 1776 to captain and lieut.-colonel. He served
in North America during the War of Independence; was en-
gaged in operations in the southern states, under Major-
General the Earl Cornwallis, and had opportunities of dis-
tinguishing himself. When Earl Cornwallis's force was
besieged in York Town, by the united French and American
armies, Lieut.-Colonel Lake commanded a detachment of foot
guards and grenadiers of the eightieth regiment, which made
a sortie on the 16th of October, 1781, forced the entrenchments,
spiked eleven heavy guns, and killed and wounded about a
hundred French soldiers. On the surrender of York Town
he became a prisoner of war ; but hostilities were terminated
soon afterwards, and he returned to England ; having been
promoted to the rank of colonel in February, 1782. In 1784
he was nominated major, and in 1792 lieut.-colonel in the
SUCCESSION OF COLONELS. 61
first foot guards. In 1790 he was advanced to the rank of
major-general. On the breaking out of the French revolu-
tionary war. he was nominated to the command of the brigade
of foot guards which proceeded to Flanders, and served under
His Royal Highness the Duke of York. He commanded this
brigade at the battle of Famars, and at the siege of Valen-
ciennes ; and highly distinguished himself at Lincelles, on
the 18th of August, 1 793, for which he was thanked in general
orders. He also served before Dunkirk, and in other opera-
tions: and in 1794 he was rewarded with the colonelcy of
the FIFTY-THIRD regiment, and the government of Limerick :
he was afterwards nominated governor of Dumbarton. In
1796 he was removed to the seventy-third regiment: in 1797
he was promoted to the rank of lieut.- general, and placed on
the staff of Ireland, where he evinced talent and energy in
suppressing the rebellion which broke out in 1798, and gained
several important victories over the insurgents. When
the French landed in Ireland, he was obliged to retire a short
distance ; but additional troops advancing to his aid, he in-
tercepted the French soldiers and forced them to surrender
prisoners of war. In 1800 he was appointed Commander-in-
Chief in India, and colonel of the eightieth regiment ; and in
1802 he was promoted to the rank of general. He arrived in
India at the period when the Governor-General, the Marquis
Wellesley, was displaying the energies of his mind in coun-
teracting the intrigues of France among the native powers of
Ilindoostan; and the ambitious designs of theMahratta chiefs
soon called General LAKE into the field, when his talents
were conspicuously displayed. His spirited and judicious
operations at Coel, on the 29th of August, 1803; the assault
of Aly Ghur, on the 9th of September ; and the overthrow of
the Mahratta army near Delhi, on the llth of September, on
which occasion his charger was killed under him, produced
decisive results. The country between the Ganges and Jumna
rivers, called the Doab (a general name in India for the
space between two rivers), became subject to British authority ;
and six days afterwards G eneral Lake visited the Emperor, Shah
Alum, whom lie had rescued from oppression, and who con-
ferred upon him titles which signified, — The Saver of the State,
— Hero of the Land, — Lord of the Age, — and the Victorious
in War.
62 FIFTY-THIRD REGIMENT OF FOOT.
Afterwards proceeding to Agra, General Lake speedily
captured that place, and on the 1st of November he gained
an important victory at Leswaree, when the French -officered
battalions of Dowlat Rao Scindia were annihilated, the
Mahratta army overpowered, and its colours, artillery, and
baggage captured. His services on this occasion were of a
'distinguished character ; he led the charge of the cavalry in
the morning ; — conducted in person the attacks of the infantry,
and in the midst of the storm of battle he displayed valour,
professional ability, promptitude, and decision ; his magnani-
mous example inspired confidence and emulation in the troops,
and they triumphed over very superior numbers. Two
horses were killed under him on this occasion.
His important services were rewarded, in 1804, with the
title of LOUD LAKE OP DELHI AND LESWAREE.
Pursuing the war with vigour, LORD LAKE routed the
power of Holkar at Furruckabad ; but the war was protracted
by the defection of the Rajah of Bhurtpore ; and when his
Lordship besieged the city of Bhurtpore, he failed in capturing
the place from the want of a battering-train. The Rajah of
Bhurtpore was, however, brought to terms ; and Lord Lake
pursued the hostile Rajah of Berar from place to place, until
this chief was brought to submission. The British military
power in the East was strengthened by these successes, and
the extent and stability of the dominions in India increased.
His Lordship returned to England, and in 1807 he was
advanced to the dignity of VISCOUNT LAKE.
He caught cold while sitting on the general court-martial
which tried Major-General Whitelocke ; and died on the 30th
of February, 1808.
WELBORE ELLIS DOYLE,
Appointed 2nd November, 1796.
Tins Officer served in the army during the American war,
and on the 21st of March, 1782, he was appointed lieut.-
colonel of the 105th regiment of foot, then newly raised by
Francis Lord Rawdon. This corps was disbanded at the
termination of the American war; and in 1789 he was
nominated to the lieut.-colonelcy of the fourteenth foot, at
SUCCESSION OF COLONELS. 63
the head of which regiment he distinguished himself in
Flanders under His Royal Highness the Duke of York. He
was promoted to the rank of colonel in 1793, and to that of
major-general in 1795 ; in 1796 he was nominated colonel
of the FIFTY-THIRD regiment. He died in 1798.
CHARLES CROSBIE,
Appointed 3rd January, 1798.
CHARLES CROSBIE was appointed captain in the eighty-sixth
regiment on the 24th of August, 1759, and he served with
this corps on the coast of Africa, being stationed some time
at Senegal. He was promoted to the rank of major, and
afterwards to that of lieut.-colonel in the eighty-sixth, which
regiment was disbanded after the termination of the seven
years' war. In 1 778 he was nominated lieut.-colonel of the
sixty-seventh regiment ; was promoted to the rank of colonel
in 1780, and to that of major-general in 1787. In 1794 he
was nominated colonel of the Royal Dublin regiment of foot,
which was embodied at that period, and disbanded soon after-
wards. He was appointed colonel of the FIFTY-THIRD
regiment in January, 1797, and promoted to the rank of lieut.-
general in December following : in 1802 he was promoted to
the rank of general. He died on the 18th of March, 1807.
THE HONORABLE JOHN ABERCROMBY,
Appointed 'list March, 1807.
JOHN ABERCROMBY was the second son of the celebrated
General SIR RALPH ABERCROMBY, K.B., who commanded
the expedition to Egypt, and was mortally wounded at the
battle of Alexandria, on the 21st of March, 1801, thus termi-
nating an honorable life with a glorious death in the hour of
victory. As a reward for his gallant conduct his widow was
created BARONESS ABERCROMBY of Aboukir, and of Tulli-
body in the county of Clackmannan, by patent dated the 28th
of May, 1801.
On the 13th of April, 1782, John Abercromby was appointed
C4 FIFTY-THIRD REGIMENT OF FOOT.
cornet in the fifth, the Royal IrishJ dragoons ; and in 1787,
when the seventy-fifth regiment was raised by Colonel Robert
Abercromby, he was appointed lieutenant in that corps ; in
1792 he was promoted captain in the same corps. He served
in Flanders under His Royal Highness the Duke of York ;
and obtained the rank of lieut.-colonel in 1794. In 1795 he
was appointed lieut-colonel in the FIFTY-THIRD regiment,
which corps he commanded at the capture of St. Lucia, in
1 796, and distinguished himself in the action at the pass of
Morne Chabot, for which he was thanked in orders. He
commanded the FIFTY-THIRD in the Caribbee war in St.
Vincent in 1196, — at the capture of Trinidad, in February,
1797, — and at the unsuccessful attempt on Porto Rico, in
April of the same year, under his father, Lieut.-General Sir
Ralph Abercromby. In 1800 he was promoted to the rank
of colonel, and in 1805 to that of major-general : on the 21st
of March, 1807, he was nominated to the colonelcy of the
FIFTY-THIRD regiment. He obtained the rank of lieut.-
general in 1812, and was afterwards placed on the staff of the
army in India, where he served two years as governor of
Madras, and commander-in-chief of the coast army ; but in
September, 1814, he resigned his appointments to return to
Europe for the benefit of his health. He was afterwards
honored with the dignity of Knight Grand Cross of the Order
of the Bath. Proceeding to Marseilles, in the south of France,
for the benefit of his health, he died at that place on the
] 4th of February, 18l7,and was buried with military honors, by
the French garrison ; the funeral was attended by the French
authorities, civil and military, of the department and of the
city, and also by the consuls of several nations.
In announcing the death of Lieut.-General the Honorable
SIR JOHN ABERCROMBY, G.C.B., in regimental orders,
Colonel Sir George Bingham stated, — " The length of time
he has served in the FIFTY-THIRD regiment, — his great
attachment to the corps, — the interest he took in its welfare,
as well as in that of every individual belonging to it, will
cause him to be particularly regretted by those not personally
acquainted with him ; while his high military abilities and
upright private character will occasion his loss to be regarded
as a calamity to the service."
SUCCESSION OF COLONELS. 65
ROWLAND LORD HILL, G.C.B., G.C.H., K.C.,
Appointed 24th February, 1817.
ROWLAND HILL was appointed ensign in the thirty-eighth
foot in 1790; and in 1791 lieutenant in an independent
company, from which he was removed to the FIFTY-THIRD
regiment, which proceeded to Flanders at the commencement
of the French revolutionary war in 1793, and distinguished
itself. In the same year he raised an independent company,
was promoted to the rank of captain, and appointed to the
eighty-sixth regiment, or Shropshire volunteers, then raised
by Major-General Cuyler. He accompanied Mr. Drake on a
mission to Genoa, and afterwards proceeded to Toulon, where
he served as aide-de-camp to the three successive generals
commanding there, viz., Lord Mulgrave, Lieut. -General
O'Hara, and Sir David Dundas ; and was wounded at the
attack of the heights of Arenes, on the 30th of November,
1793, and narrowly escaped with his life, when Lieut.-General
O'Hara was taken prisoner. On the evacuation of Toulon,
he was sent with despatches to England. In 1794 he was
promoted to a majority in the ninetieth regiment, raised
at this period by Thomas Graham Esq., (of Balgowan, Perth-
shire,) afterwards General Lord Lynedoch ; and in the same
year to a lieut. -colonelcy in that corps. He served at Isle
Dieu on the coast of France, at Gibraltar, Malta, and Minorca ;
on the 1st of January, 18OO, he was promoted to the rank of
Colonel, and commanded the ninetieth regiment in the ex-
pedition to Egypt under General Sir Rilph Abercromby,
distinguishing himself during the action on the 13th of March,
1801, when his regiment was at the head of the right column,
and repulsed a charge of cavalry with great gallantry. Colonel
Hill fell from the blow of a musket-ball on the right temple,
and was removed in a state of insensibility, but recovered ;
the force of the ball having been resisted by a strong brass
binding in front of his helmet. On his return to England
he was promoted to the rank of brigadier-general, and placed
on the staff of Ireland, where he was presented with the
freedom of Cork. He was promoted to the rank of major-
general, and served in the expedition to Hanover, under Lord
Cathcart, in 1805 ; and in 1808 he embarked from Ireland,
F
66 FIFTY-THIRD REGIMENT OF FOOT.
with a brigade of infantry, to serve in the Peninsula, where
he speedily gave presage of those military virtues which
adorned his character. He commanded a brigade at the
battles of Roleia, and Vimiera, under Sir Arthur Wellesley ;
and during the advance into Spain under Sir John Moore,
and the corps under his orders covered the embarkation at
Corunna. He acquired fresh honors at the passage of the
Douro at Oporto, on the 12th of May, 1809, when he com-
manded the corps which first passed the river, after Lieut.-
General Sir E. Paget was wounded : and at the battle of
Talavera he again distinguished himself, particularly in
repulsing the attack of the French on the hill on the left of
the position ; he was wounded in the head on this occasion.
His services during the whole of the campaigns ip the Penin-
sula and South of France were of a distinguished character, and
have called forth the commendations of historians, the praises
of Field-Marshal the Duke of Wellington, the thanks of Parlia-
ment, the approbation of his Sovereign, and the gratitude
of his country. During the early part of 1811, he was
absent from the army on account of ill health : but he
returned to his post in the month of May with the rank of
lieut.-general, and was placed in command of the troops in
Estremadura. His abilities were conspicuously displayed in
the surprise of a body of French troops at Arroyo dos Moli-
nos, in October, 1811 ; in the capture of the forts and the
destruction of the bridge at Almaraz, in May, 1812 ; and at
the battle of the Nive, on the 13th December, 1813. His
reputation was constantly augmented, and his talents, energy,
and sound judgment became more conspicuous as the extent of
his command was increased, and the nature of his services be-
came difficult. His claim to military eminence was not esta-
blished by a few solitary acts of courage and skill ; but by a career
of brilliant service, which will descend to posterity interwoven
with the triumphs of the Duke of Wellington, whose victories
were followed by the overthrow of the power of Napoleon,
and the restoration of the Bourbon dynasty to the throne of
France. The services of Lieut.-General Sir Rowland Hill
were rewarded with the dignity of BARON HILL OP ALMARAZ,
and of Hawkstone in the county of Salop, by patent dated the
17th of May, 1814.
When the return of Bonaparte to France re-kindled the
SUCCESSION OF COIX)NELS. 67
war in Europe, Lieut.-General LORD HILL was selected to
hold an important command in the army in Flanders under
Field -Marshal the Duke of Wellington ; and he was placed
at the head of a corps of the allied army at the memorable battle
of Waterloo, on the 18th of June, 1815, when the power of
Bonaparte was annihilated by British skill and valour, and
peace was acquired for Europe. The honorary distinctions
conferred upon LORD HILL for his important services, were, —
Knight.'Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath, — Knight Grand
Cross of the Royal Hanoverian Guelphic Order, — a medal for
the battle of Waterloo, — across and three clasps for the battles
of Roleia, Vimiera, Corunna, Talavera, Vittoria, Pyrenees,
Nivelle, Nive, andOrthes; the Turkish Order of the Crescent, —
Grand Cross of the Tower and Sword of Portugal, Commander
of Maria Theresa of Austria, — St. George of Russia, and
Wilhelm of Holland. He was presented with the freedom of
the city of London ; and was appointed governor of Hull,
and Colonel of the ninety-fourth regiment. In 1817 he was
removed to the FIFTY-THIRD regiment.
In 1825 LORD HILL was promoted to the rank of general ;
and on the 15th of February, 1828, he was appointed General
Commanding in Chief, the important duties of which appoint-
ment he performed with reputation and advantage to the service
fourteen years. He was appointed Colonel of the Royal
Regiment of Horse Guards, and Governor of Plymouth, in
1830. His Lordship's resignation of the command of the
Army, in August, 1842, was announced in the following
General Order :
" HORSE GUARDS, 15th August, 1842.
" GENERAL LORD HILL finds it necessary to resign the Com-
mand of the Army on account of his Lordship's present state
of health, and Her Majesty has been graciously pleased to
accept his Lordship's resignation.
" When Lord Hill assumed the command which he now
resigns, he expressed, in General Orders, his confident hope,
that from the General and other Officers, as well as from the
Public Departments of the Army, he should receive that sup-
port which should enable him to fulfil the important trust
reposed in him.
"That hope has not been disappointed, but, on the con-
F 2
68 FIFTY-THIRD REGIMENT OF FOOT.
trary, realized beyond Lord Hill's most sanguine expecta-
tion.
" The conduct of the Troops has, both in the Field and in
Quarters, furnished, during Lord Hill's command of them, an
example of discipline, regularity, and general efficiency, not
to be surpassed, and the Officers have, by their devotion to
their duty, enabled his Lordship to maintain the Army in that
creditable state. The Officers have, therefore, established their
claim to Lord Hill's lasting gratitude and esteem.
" His Lordship cannot, then, but with painful feelings take
leave of Officers, Non-Commissioned Officers, and Soldiers,
whose conduct has been so uniformly approved by their
Sovereign and by their Country.
" These feelings are, however, greatly alleviated and consoled
by the reflection that the Command of the Army is now to
be resumed by the Duke of Wellington, the ever vigilant and
most influential Guardian of its Interests, and whose achieve-
ments have raised its character to the highest Pinnacle of
Glory."
On the 3rd of September, 1842, Lord Hill was advanced
to the dignity of Viscount, by Her Majesty, in consideration of
his eminent military services, and in approbation of the
ability with which His Lordship had discharged, for a
lengthened period, the important duties of General Com-
manding-in-Chief.
The decease of General Lord Hill occurred on the 10th
December, 1842, in the seventy-first year of his age, at
Hardwicke Grange, Shrewsbury.
LOKD FiTzRoY JAMES HENRY SOMERSET, G.C.B.,
Appointed 19th November, 1830.
APPENDIX.
MEMOIR OF THE SERVICES OF MAJOR-GENERAL
SIR GEORGE R. BINGHAM, K.C.B.
SIR GEORGE RIDOUT BINGHAM entered the army in June,
1793, as ensign in the sixty-ninth regiment, and served at
Corsica and in the Mediterranean. He was promoted to
captain in the eighty-first in 1796, and major in the eighty-
second in 1801, and he served with those corps at the Cape of
Good Hope and the island of Minorca. On the 14th of
March, 1805, he was nominated lieut.-colonel in the FIFTY-
THIRD regiment, and assuming the command of the second
battalion in Ireland, on the 1st of April, he was at the head of
that portion of the regiment during the whole of its arduous
and distinguished service in the Peninsula, commencing with
the expulsion of Marshal Soult's army from Oporto in 1809,
and continued until the end of 1812, when the battalion was
so reduced in numbers, that six companies returned to England
to recruit ; and during these campaigns his conduct reflected
honour on the corps to which he belonged. In 1813 he com-
manded with reputation the second provisional battalion. He
received a cross and one clasp for the battles of Talavera,
Salamanca, Vittoria, Pyrenees, and Nivelle; he was also
nominated Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath, and
received permission to accept of the Order of the Tower and
Sword of Portugal. He commanded the troops which
proceeded to St. Helena with Napoleon Bonaparte, in 1815,
and served as brigadier-general at that island until 1820, when
he returned to England in consequence of having been pro-
moted to the rank of major-general in 1819. In 1831 he was
appointed colonel commandant of a battalion of the Rifle
Brigade. He served on the staff of Ireland from 1825 to
1832. He died in 1833. As a soldier and a gentleman he
stood high in the estimation of all who knew him ; he was an
ornament to his profession and an honour to his country.
LONDON :
Printed by WILLIAM CLOWES and Sons, Stamford Street,
For Her Majesty's Stationery Office.
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